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
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 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 But a linesman stepped in and prevented the gadabout angler from bringing in the catch. — Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 27 Nov. 2021 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 So, a solar charging system fits perfectly with your gadabout persona. — The Editors, Field & Stream, 10 Apr. 2020 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gad (about)
  1. roam
  2. nomad
  3. peripatetic
  4. wander
  5. wanderer
  6. ambulatory
  7. drift
  8. traveler
Verb
  • More mature than the party hordes that roam this part of town, the vibe here is the casual elegance that blends drinking rum out of a pineapple while retaining your sophistication while doing it.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 13 Oct. 2026
  • More than 180,000 giant tortoises roaming freely on our atoll is proof of what long-term commitment to conservation can achieve.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of roam
Noun
  • This affordable tiny house prioritizes compactness and portability, and would suit nomads and those who don't need a lot of extra space.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Former nomads lost much of their lands, animals, and way of life.
    — Yulia Denisyuk, Condé Nast Traveler, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of nomad
Adjective
  • The content is what most people will come for, however, a kaleidoscopic feature-length fever dream that runs through the eventful, peripatetic life of Barbara Hammer.
    — Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Then again, the peripatetic existence of foreign reporting requires its own type of delusion.
    — Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of peripatetic
Verb
  • Crowley, once a logging camp, can’t be reached by road, but train passengers can wander among picnic tables, fire pits, cornhole games and a massive, gnarled old redwood known as the Wolf Tree.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Bucks will temporarily abandon much of their natural caution and wander around in unfamiliar territory searching for does.
    — Colin Moore, Outdoor Life, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of wander
Noun
  • Connecting with this odd population of wanderers is one of the surprise pleasures of our annual Bishop trip.
    — Brian Laidlaw, Longreads, 1 Sep. 2026
  • My eight women are divided into wanderers, rebels, explorers, and mentors.
    — Anne E. Fernald, Literary Hub, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of wanderer
Adjective
  • The sanctuary may have been an ambulatory temple, with a central sacred chamber surrounded by a covered walkway.
    — Francesca Aton, ARTnews.com, 28 Sep. 2026
  • Further, while about 4,000 workers across Hartford HealthCare’s hospitals, ambulatory locations, and support functions will benefit from this increase, an additional 4,000 will benefit from compression adjustments, the documents show.
    — Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 26 Sep. 2026
Definition of ambulatory
Verb
  • The autumn sun is drifting southward and the angle of shadows is shifting.
    — Dana Kelley, Arkansas Online, 16 Oct. 2026
  • His attention drifts towards intimate details – the bare armpit, the small hollow at the base of Rafael’s neck – and the music follows him into this increasingly private, almost obsessive fascination.
    — Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of drift
Noun
  • Torrey attributes his great interest in collecting to his grandparents who were serious travelers.
    — Gay Gassmann, Architectural Digest, 19 Oct. 2026
  • During the repairs, travelers going to and from Clarksburg will be directed through West Sacramento to the north or via Highway 160 and the Paintersville Bridge to the south.
    — Daniel Lempres, Sacbee.com, 19 Oct. 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 20 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?
See More

Popular

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'
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
artwork of illustrated limes with the text limes and smile with an arrow connecting the two words
Quiz: Spot the Anagram! Scramble these words to find new words with the e...
See All