straggle

American  

[strag-uhl] / ˈstræg əl /

verb (used without object)

straggled, straggling

1. to spread or be spread in a scattered fashion or at irregular intervals.

   The trees straggle over the countryside.

2. to lag behind others.

   Some organizations have caught on to this concept, but others are straggling behind.

3. to stray from the road, course, or line of march.

4. to wander about in a scattered fashion; ramble.

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straggle British  

/ ˈstræɡəl /

verb

1. to go, come, or spread in a rambling or irregular way; stray

2. to linger behind or wander from a main line or part

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Other Word Forms

• straggler noun
• straggling adjective
• stragglingly adverb
• straggly adjective

Etymology

Origin of straggle

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English straglen, of uncertain origin, perhaps a variant of strackle (unrecorded), frequentative of obsolete strake “to go, move” ( -le ( def. ) ); stagger ( def. )

Example Sentences

But the stragglers may not be able to straggle much longer: Bans on the chemicals are coming.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 23, 2023

In the longer races, some competitors would straggle to the finish line well after Heiden had won and departed.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 2, 2022

The move comes as lawmakers straggle back to Washington for an abbreviated preelection session, as hopes are dimming for another coronavirus relief bill — or much else.”

From Fox News • Sep. 8, 2020

“He could finish third in Iowa and straggle in here, in which case he’d almost certainly finish third here in as well and then go home,” Scala said.

From Washington Post • Nov. 19, 2015

I straggle behind the film crew and the bodyguards, feeling their presence to be a violation of my beloved woods.

From "Mockingjay" by Suzanne Collins

Related Words

• dawdle
• meander
• ramble