Meaning & use
a rambler
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Meanings
nouncountableBritish
A person who goes on long walks in the countryside for pleasure.
Grammar: Countable: one rambler, two ramblers. Often used in the plural to talk about a group.
Patterns
- a rambler in the countryside
- a group of ramblers
- go rambling
My uncle is a rambler who spends every weekend walking in the hills.
The path was full of ramblers enjoying the spring sunshine.
She joined a rambler group to meet people who love the outdoors.
nouncountablespecialist
A plant that grows along the ground or climbs over other plants, especially a type of rose.
Grammar: Countable: a rambler, ramblers. Usually used for climbing roses.
Patterns
- a rambler rose
- grow ramblers
They planted a rambler along the fence to cover the bare wall.
This rambler produces small pink flowers in early summer.
Word forms
| plural | ramblers |
|---|
Common combinations
- a rambler rose
- The rambler rose has climbed right over the shed.
- go rambling
- We often go rambling in the Lake District.
- a keen rambler
- He's a keen rambler and knows all the local footpaths.
- a rambler group
- The rambler group meets every Sunday morning.
Synonyms and how they differ
- hiker
- More common in American English; it often suggests a longer or more challenging walk, while a rambler walks for pleasure in the countryside.
- walker
- A general word for anyone walking; a rambler specifically enjoys long country walks.
- trekker
- Used for someone on a long, difficult journey, often in mountains; a rambler's walks are usually gentler.
Word family
Commonly confused: a rambler or rambler?
a rambler vs rambler
Not to be confused with 'rambler' as a type of rose; context makes it clear whether a person or a plant is meant.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'rambler' correctly?
Choose one answer.
A rambler is a person who walks in the countryside, so stopping to admire a view fits. The first option confuses it with a lawnmower, the third uses it as a verb (the verb is 'ramble'), and the fourth describes a washing machine.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “a rambler”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.