rover

1 of 2

noun (1)

ro·​ver ˈrō-vər How to pronounce rover (audio)
Synonyms of rovernext
: pirate

rover

2 of 2

noun (2)

rov·​er ˈrō-vər How to pronounce rover (audio)
1
: a random or long-distance mark in archery
—usually plural
2
: wanderer, roamer
3
: a player who is not assigned to a specific position on a team and who plays wherever needed
4
: a vehicle for exploring the surface of an extraterrestrial body (such as the moon or Mars)

Synonyms of rover

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Noun (2)

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Examples of rover in a Sentence

Noun (2) ever since he developed a strong case of wanderlust in college, he's been a rover a story of the days when sea rovers plied the Caribbean
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Noun
More landers, rovers and orbiters will follow, so many that by the time the first Artemis moon walkers arrive, their moon car will already be there waiting for them, according to officials. — Marcia Dunn, Los Angeles Times, 26 Oct. 2026 In this cargo will be science experiments and new technologies that will be tested on the moon's surface, including Astrolab's FLIP rover, which will explore the lunar surface with a history-making supercomputer onboard. — Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 23 Oct. 2026 More landers, rovers and orbiters will follow, so many that by the time the first Artemis moonwalkers arrive, their moon car will already be there waiting for them, according to officials. — ABC News, 23 Oct. 2026 Five of the world's space agencies joined forces for the five-year mission that will attempt to land a robotic prospector and a rover on Phobos, the larger and closer of Mars' two pint-sized moons. — Arkansas Online, 21 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for rover

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, from Middle Dutch, from roven to rob; akin to Old English rēafian to reave — more at reave

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

circa 1525, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of rover was in the 14th century

Phrases Containing rover

Rhymes for rover

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Browse Nearby Words

rove-over
rover
rover bellflower
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Cite this Entry

“Rover.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rover. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

rover

2 of 2 noun
rov·​er ˈrō-vər How to pronounce rover (audio)
: a person who roves around : roamer
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