What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
roaming
Example
The cat was roaming around the neighborhood, looking for mice. [roaming: verb]
Example
We spent the day roaming the city, discovering new places. [roaming: gerund or present participle]
migrating
Example
The birds are migrating south for the winter. [migrating: verb]
Example
My grandparents migrated to the US from Italy in the 1950s. [migrated: past tense]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Roaming is more commonly used in everyday language than migrating. Roaming can be used in various contexts, such as describing the behavior of animals or people, or the act of exploring or traveling. Migrating, on the other hand, is more specific and usually refers to the seasonal movement of animals or the permanent relocation of people.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between roaming and migrating?
Migrating is generally more formal than roaming. Migrating is often used in academic or scientific contexts to describe the movement of animals or people, while roaming is more commonly used in informal or everyday language to describe the act of wandering or exploring.