gad (about) 1 of 3

verb

Definition of gad (about)next
as in to roam
to move about from place to place aimlessly he gads about town every Saturday, flirting and gossiping with various shopkeepers and locals

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

gadabout

2 of 3

noun

ˈga-də-ˌbau̇t How to pronounce gadabout (audio)
as in nomad
a person who roams about without a fixed route or destination she was a thoughtful gadabout, always picking up souvenirs for her friends from wherever her travels took her

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

gadabout

3 of 3

adjective

as in peripatetic

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of gad (about)
Noun
But a linesman stepped in and prevented the gadabout angler from bringing in the catch. — Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 27 Nov. 2021 So, a solar charging system fits perfectly with your gadabout persona. — The Editors, Field & Stream, 10 Apr. 2020 Writer, comedian, and social gadabout Lucas Murphy sits down with friends and contemporaries to solve the New York Times crossword puzzle. — Savannah Eadens, The Courier-Journal, 20 Apr. 2020 For those of us who won’t be joining in the sybaritic excursion, Matches is bringing the Riviera gadabout vibes to all with capsule collections of women’s, men’s and home products curated by Sciò and Rabensteiner. — Todd Plummer, Robb Report, 5 May 2022 Simon is so reserved that even his live-in girlfriend (an egregiously underused Olivia Thirlby) has given up on him; Trevor is a kooky gadabout who’d be right at home trading druggy celebrity anecdotes with Oliver Putnam. — Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019 The wild career of David Johansen — New York Dolls frontman, punk gadabout, occasional actor, and Buster Poindexter portrayer — will be the focus of an upcoming documentary co-directed by Martin Scorsese. — Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 16 Mar. 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gad (about)
  1. roam
  2. nomad
  3. peripatetic
  4. wander
  5. wanderer
  6. ambulatory
  7. drift
  8. traveler
Verb
  • Visitors can hike trails and drive a scenic route through the colorful, rugged Badlands where bison and wild horses roam.
    — Jack Dura, Fortune, 2 July 2026
  • The age of sail, when pirates like Johnny Depp’s fictional Jack Sparrow roamed the seven seas, ended about 200 years ago.
    — Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 1 July 2026
Definition of roam
Noun
  • Gerardo Olivares’ globe-trotting comedy sees various nomads and tribesmen move heaven and earth to watch the final between 2002 World Cup final between Germany and Brazil.
    — Jon O'Brien, Vulture, 26 June 2026
  • Who co-living is actually for The stereotype of co-living as a landing pad for laptop-toting nomads no longer holds.
    — Hanna Wickes, Sacbee.com, 17 June 2026
Definition of nomad
Adjective
  • In an untitled work from 1995, a cluster of sturdy wagons sits at the edge of a frozen lake, a site where her family of peripatetic horse traders often camped.
    — Ben Davis, The New York Review of Books, 25 Apr. 2026
  • The Danish Algerian songwriter’s peripatetic new album pulls up at the bustling crossroads of the electroclash comeback and the contemporary Scandinavian school.
    — Walden Green, Pitchfork, 24 Apr. 2026
Definition of peripatetic
Verb
  • However, because his hearing aids connected directly to the ringtone, the two ended up wandering around the house, using the changing volume to narrow down its location instead of listening for the phone itself.
    — Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 5 July 2026
  • Modeled after a European village, the collection of boutiques, restaurants, and attractions is a great place to wander.
    — Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 5 July 2026
Definition of wander
Noun
  • Weston loved to ‘embed himself in different cultures’ Weston’s mother, Nancy Higginbotham, described him as an ardent protector of the environment and a wanderer who loved to travel and enjoy nature.
    — Rebekah Riess, CNN Money, 6 June 2026
  • Designed to naturally decay over roughly a decade, these statues impress wanderers who seek them out.
    — Kristy Tolley, Travel + Leisure, 16 May 2026
Definition of wanderer
Adjective
  • Recent data from the American Hospital Association (AHA) reveals that the vast majority of care is now happening in outpatient settings like physician groups, ambulatory practices and same-day surgery centers.
    — Forbes.com, Forbes.com, 26 June 2026
  • One non-hospital option that may be lesser known to people is ambulatory surgery centers.
    — Anthem Blue Cross California, Daily News, 10 June 2026
Definition of ambulatory
Verb
  • Yamal was a thorn in Saudi Arabia’s side, drifting infield to unleash shots from distance but also peppering the penalty area with wicked deliveries from the right flank.
    — Mark Carey, New York Times, 2 July 2026
  • When those models drift or their assumptions fail, errors can scale rapidly.
    — Akhilesh Sharma, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
Definition of drift
Noun
  • Average transaction values for travel are still high, more than $31,000, but travelers are scrutinizing their receipts and pushing back when rate hikes don't come with better service.
    — Christopher Elliott, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
  • Each issue is filled with breaking news, deep insights and exclusive strategies for becoming a better traveler.
    — Christopher Elliott, USA Today, 2 July 2026
Definition of traveler

Browse Nearby Words

gad
gad (about)
gadabout
See all Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

“Gad (about).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gad%20%28about%29. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of gambol

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
hangman letters and game
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All