What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
rove
Example
The nomads roved across the desert in search of water. [rove: verb]
Example
He roved around the city, taking in the sights and sounds. [roved: past tense]
ramble
Example
Let's go for a ramble in the woods and see what we can find. [ramble: noun]
Example
She rambled on and on about her trip to Europe. [rambled: past tense]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Ramble is more commonly used than rove in everyday language. Ramble is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while rove is less common and may be associated with more specific activities such as nomadic or wilderness exploration.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between rove and ramble?
Both rove and ramble are relatively informal words, but ramble may be slightly more versatile and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.