WordGarden.iostray
C1Pronunciation
UK
- /strˈeɪ/
US
- /ˈstreɪ/
Meanings
Adjective
without a home or owner and wandering loose, especially of a pet
separate, unintended, or isolated from the main group or subject
Verb
to wander away or deviate from the proper place, path, or subject
Noun
a dog, cat, or other domestic animal without a home or owner
Beyond the definition
A dog might stray from its owner during a walk in the park, meaning it wanders off without meaning to. But "stray" is not just about animals. A thought can stray from the main topic, or you might stray from the path while hiking. It often suggests moving away from where something should be. It can also describe something that is out of place, like a stray sock under the bed, or a homeless animal, like a stray cat on the street.
The word "stray" carries a sense of wandering or deviating from the usual path or expectation. Originally, it described animals that wandered off and became lost—a stray cat roaming the streets or a stray calf separated from its mother. This is still a common usage: "Several stray dogs were found near the abandoned factory."
However, "stray" isn't limited to physical wandering. It can also describe thoughts, ideas, or behaviors that drift away from their intended focus. For example, "His mind began to stray during the long lecture" means his attention wandered. Or, "The conversation strayed far from its original topic."
As a verb, to stray implies an unintentional departure. You don't usually deliberately stray; you simply lose your way. But it can also suggest a slight moral lapse: "He didn't mean to cheat; he just strayed from his principles."
As a noun, "a stray" often refers to a homeless animal. As an adjective, the word can describe things that are isolated, misplaced, or unintended, like a stray piece of yarn, a stray bullet, or stray voltage in an electrical system. In all of these cases, it suggests something that has ended up away from where it normally belongs.
So, whether it's a wandering animal, a drifting thought, or a deviation from the norm, "stray" suggests a departure from what is expected—often unintentional and sometimes with a hint of vulnerability.
Examples
- 1
Homeless animal
A stray dog waited outside the bakery every morning.
- 2
Animal shelter
The shelter is full of strays after the storm.
- 3
Misplaced objects
I found a few stray socks under the bed.
- 4
Leaving a route
We strayed off the trail and had to check the map.
- Patternstray off + route
go away from the route you should follow
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Wandering attention
His eyes kept straying to the phone on the table.
- 6
Topic focus
Sorry, I’m straying from the point.
- Phrasestray from the point
stop talking about the main subject
- 7
Topic shift
The conversation soon strayed into politics.
- Patternstray into + subject
move into a different subject, often by accident
See also
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- straynounverbadjective
Forms
- strayedpast tenseverbnounadjective
- strayspluralnounverbadjective
- straying-ing formverbnounadjective