straggle
to spread or be spread in a scattered fashion or at irregular intervals: The trees straggle over the countryside.
to lag behind others: Some organizations have caught on to this concept, but others are straggling behind.
to stray from the road, course, or line of march.
to wander about in a scattered fashion; ramble.
Origin of straggle
1Other words from straggle
- strag·gler, noun
- strag·gling·ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use straggle in a sentence
This he followed up till the pursuit came stragglingly to an end, and the trail of the fugitive stood out alone and distinct.
In the Morning of Time | Charles G. D. RobertsCarol and Dixie arose at once, and the others shyly and stragglingly followed.
Dixie Martin | Grace May NorthFinally, about noon, they kicked their two prisoners into the river, and took their way stragglingly back along the right-of-way.
The Blazed Trail | Stewart Edward WhiteThe water in the river is low, and spreads stragglingly over a wide surface.
Personal Memoirs Of A Residence Of Thirty Years With The Indian Tribes On The American Frontiers | Henry Rowe Schoolcraft
British Dictionary definitions for straggle
/ (ˈstræɡəl) /
to go, come, or spread in a rambling or irregular way; stray
to linger behind or wander from a main line or part
Origin of straggle
1Derived forms of straggle
- straggler, noun
- straggling, adjective
- stragglingly, adverb
- straggly, adjective
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Browse