stray

intransitive-verb
UK: /streɪ/
US: /streɪ/

  1. To move away from the correct place or path.

    1. My dog will stray if I don't watch him carefully.
    2. During the hike, make sure not to stray from the marked trail.

  2. To move randomly without purpose.

    1. Cows stray into the road sometimes.
    2. Tourists should be careful not to stray into dangerous areas.

  3. To start thinking or talking about a different subject from the one you should be giving attention to.

    1. Try not to stray from the main topic of our conversation.
    2. The speaker often let his thoughts stray during the lecture.

Synonyms

wander drift deviate roam vagrant errant
stray noun

  1. An animal that has wandered away from its owner or home.

    1. I saw a stray cat in my yard.
    2. The animal shelter takes care of stray dogs and cats.
stray adjective

  1. Lost or having wandered away from home.

    1. That is a stray dog.
    2. We found a stray kitten hiding under the porch.

  2. Existing or happening by chance, especially separately or when lost.

    1. A stray bullet hit the wall.
    2. He combed back a few stray hairs that had fallen onto his forehead.

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "stray" in English means: To move away from the correct place or path., To move randomly without purpose., To start thinking or talking about a different subject from the one you should be giving attention to..

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

Synonyms for "stray": wander, drift, deviate, roam, vagrant, errant.

Example usage of "stray": "My dog will stray if I don't watch him carefully.". More examples on the page.