WordGarden.ioastray
C1Pronunciation
UK
- /əstrˈeɪ/
US
- /əˈstreɪ/
Meanings
Adverb
off the right path, course, or destination
into error, deception, or bad behavior
Beyond the definition
To go astray means to wander from the right path, either physically or morally. Think of a little lamb straying from its flock—it is lost and potentially in danger. Similarly, people can go astray by making bad choices or losing their way in life. If someone "leads you astray," they have influenced you to do something wrong or foolish.
The word carries a sense of drifting away from what is right or expected. A traveler might worry about going astray while hiking in unfamiliar territory, meaning they have physically left the trail. It is not just the state of being lost; it is the action of drifting away from where you should be.
The word "astray" describes the state of having wandered or deviated from the correct path, course, or standard. It can apply to physical movement, moral choices, or figurative departures from what is expected.
Physically, you can go astray by getting lost, like a ship blown off course by a storm or hikers losing the trail in a dense forest. Morally, "going astray" suggests a lapse in judgment or ethics. If someone is "led astray" by bad influences, it means they have been tempted into wrongdoing, drifting away from their values.
"Astray" is also frequently used for inanimate objects and abstract plans. If a letter or package "goes astray," it means it has been lost in the mail or mislaid. Furthermore, a famous idiom states that "the best-laid plans... often go astray," meaning that even perfect preparations can fail or take an unexpected turn. Whether referring to a lost item, a failed plan, or a person losing their moral compass, "astray" signifies a departure from the intended destination.
Examples
- 1
Lost hikers
A few hikers went astray in the fog and had to call for help.
- 2
Luggage
Occasionally, a piece of luggage goes astray between connecting flights.
- Phrasego astray
get lost or end up in the wrong place
- 3
Discussion
Without a clear plan, the discussion soon went astray.
- 4
Bad advice
He was led astray by online advice that sounded confident but was completely wrong.
- Patternlead + person astray
cause someone to make a bad choice or believe something false
See also
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- astrayadjectiveadverb