rambling

[ram-bling]

adjective

1. aimlessly wandering.

2. taking an irregular course; straggling.

   a rambling brook.

3. spread out irregularly in various directions.

   a rambling mansion.

4. straying from one subject to another; desultory.

   a rambling novel.

   Synonyms: discursive

rambling

/ ˈræmblɪŋ /

adjective

1. straggling or sprawling haphazardly; unplanned

   a rambling old house

2. (of speech or writing) lacking a coherent plan; diffuse and disconnected

3. (of a plant, esp a rose) profusely climbing and straggling

4. nomadic; wandering

Other Word Forms

• ramblingly adverb
• ramblingness noun
• unrambling adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of rambling¹

First recorded in 1615–25; ramble + -ing ²

Example Sentences

It’ll finally have the rambling, meticulously restored historic venue of its dreams opening this fall.

From Los Angeles Times

By pathologizing without a plan of action, “Eddington” is as effective as an influencer’s Instagram carousel with 10 rambling slides about “everything going on right now.”

From Salon

Feel like I’m rambling, but I know this is something I’ll look back on when I’m through this, as something I’m proud I fought through.

From Los Angeles Times

There were rambling courtroom monologues, questionable medical episodes and theatrical outbursts which were often directed at his own lawyers as a prelude to sacking them.

From BBC

But don’t worry, I’m not going to mark this anniversary by rambling on and on about the death spiral, other than to remind you to renew your subscription immediately.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• circuitous 
• disjointed 
• incoherent 
• long-winded