astray

adverb
UK: /əˈstreɪ/
US: /əˈstreɪ/

  1. Away from the correct path or direction.

    1. The tourist went astray and needed help. [ ] [ ]
    2. The little puppy went astray from its mother in the busy park and started to cry. [ ] [ ]

  2. Away from what is right or morally good.

    1. The boy went astray and started doing bad things. [ ] [ ]
    2. The politician's actions led many to believe he had gone astray from his ethical principles. [ ] [ ]

  3. Lost or missing.

    1. My letter went astray in the mail. [ ] [ ]
    2. Several important documents went astray during the office move, causing significant delays. [ ] [ ]

Synonyms

amiss wrong lost adrift astray badly awry
astray verb

  1. To go in the wrong direction or to become lost.

    1. The sheep strayed astray from the flock. [ ] [ ]
    2. If you don't pay attention, you might stray astray during the long walk. [ ] [ ]

  2. To start doing things that are morally wrong.

    1. He feared he might stray astray if he wasn't careful. [ ] [ ]
    2. Young people sometimes stray astray when they are exposed to negative influences online. [ ] [ ]
astray adjective

  1. Having gone in the wrong direction or having become lost; no longer on the correct path.

    1. They rescued an astray kitten. [ ] [ ]
    2. The hunter found an astray dog wandering alone in the forest and helped it find its owner. [ ] [ ]

  2. Having turned from the correct path or from doing what is morally right.

    1. He tried to help the astray youth. [ ] [ ]
    2. The organization provides support for astray individuals seeking to reintegrate into society. [ ] [ ]

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "astray" in English means: Away from the correct path or direction., Away from what is right or morally good., Lost or missing..

The phonetic transcription of "astray" is /əˈstreɪ/ in British English and /əˈstreɪ/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "astray": amiss, wrong, lost, adrift, astray, badly, awry.

Example usage of "astray": "The tourist went astray and needed help.". More examples on the page.