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The Complete Vocabulary Builder Workbook

ramble

IPA:

How to pronounce ramble (audio)

Dictionary definition of ramble

To talk or write in a long, wandering, and unfocused manner, often without a clear point or direction.
"He would ramble during his lectures, often losing the attention of his students."

Detailed meaning of ramble

When someone rambles, they may jump from topic to topic or use unnecessary words and phrases, making their speech or writing difficult to follow. Rambling can be a symptom of various conditions, such as anxiety, confusion, or intoxication. It can also be a deliberate style of communication, such as in stream-of-consciousness writing or free-form improvisation. Rambling can be frustrating for listeners or readers who may struggle to understand the intended message. To overcome rambling, it is important to stay focused on the main point, organize thoughts and ideas, and practice effective communication techniques. Overall, rambling is a common communication challenge that requires mindfulness and self-awareness to overcome.

Example sentences containing ramble

1. She tends to ramble when she's nervous, filling the silence with unrelated chatter.
2. The speaker would ramble on and on, leaving the audience confused and bored.
3. They invited him to share his thoughts, but he would only ramble without making any coherent arguments.
4. I asked a simple question, but he started to ramble, going off on tangents.
5. She tends to ramble in her diary entries, pouring out her thoughts without structure.
6. The politician would ramble during interviews, evading direct questions.

History and etymology of ramble

The verb 'ramble' traces its origins to the Middle English word 'rambelen,' which meant to roam or wander aimlessly. This Middle English term likely evolved from the Old High German word 'ramōn,' which also meant to roam or roam about. Over time, 'ramble' came to describe not just physical wandering but also the tendency to talk or write in a long, meandering, and unfocused manner, much like one might wander aimlessly through thoughts or topics. When someone 'rambles' in conversation or writing, they often lack a clear point or direction, and their words meander like a winding path through various ideas and tangents.

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Further usage examples of ramble

1. The book was disappointing as it rambled without a clear storyline.
2. He began to ramble about his childhood, meandering through various memories.
3. Her emails often ramble, making it difficult to understand her main points.
4. During the meeting, he would ramble, making it hard to stay focused on the agenda.
5. The professor's lectures were notorious for their rambling nature, lacking a clear structure.
6. The blog post was a ramble of random thoughts, lacking coherence.
7. She tends to ramble in her conversations, jumping from one topic to another.
8. His writing style is characterized by long, meandering sentences that ramble without purpose.
9. I tried to follow his train of thought, but he would ramble, making it hard to keep up.
10. The speaker's rambling speech left the audience confused and unsatisfied.
11. The article started with a clear idea, but it quickly devolved into a ramble of unrelated information.
12. He would often ramble in his journal entries, writing whatever came to mind without structure.
13. Her speeches were a ramble of disconnected ideas, lacking a coherent message.
14. During the lecture, he would often ramble off-topic, confusing students.
15. In his journal, he'd ramble about his travels and experiences.
16. She tends to ramble when telling stories, losing her audience.
17. The speaker began to ramble, losing sight of the main message.
18. When nervous, she would ramble, making it hard to follow her point.
19. Some books tend to ramble, losing the reader's interest.
20. During the interview, he began to ramble about his personal life.
21. The politician would ramble, avoiding direct answers to questions.
22. Don't let your presentation ramble; stay concise and focused.
23. In conversation, he would often ramble, leaving others perplexed.
24. The professor would occasionally ramble, going off on tangents.

Abundance and Excess, Adventurous and Wandering, Vexation and Aggravation, Insight and Intrigue, Personality and Character Traits, Correspondence and Understanding, Complexity and Intricacy, Conversation and Expression

babble,blather,digress,diverge,meander,prattle

wander, focus, concentrate, stick to the point

eb68db_7cd44172ec5e4a0090e5ab100e089cf6.mp3

chatter,drone,maunder,roam,stray

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