Stray Definition & Meaning
stray
- adjective
- not close together in time; "isolated instances of rebellion"; "a few stray crumbs"
- (of an animal) having no home or having wandered away from home; "a stray calf"; "a stray dog"
- noun
- an animal that has strayed (especially a domestic animal)
- verb
- move about aimlessly or without any destination, often in search of food or employment; "The gypsies roamed the woods"; "roving vagabonds"; "the wandering Jew"; "The cattle roam across the prairie"; "the laborers drift from one town to the next"; "They rolled from town to town"
- wander from a direct course or at random; "The child strayed from the path and her parents lost sight of her"; "don't drift from the set course"
- lose clarity or turn aside especially from the main subject of attention or course of argument in writing, thinking, or speaking; "She always digresses when telling a story"; "her mind wanders"; "Don't digress when you give a lecture"
"Stray" in song lyrics
See how stray is used in real songs:
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"The system is designed to lead us to stray"
2 Live Crew — In the Dust -
"tryin' to make my pay tryin' not to stray"
Aceyalone w/ Abstract Rude, Mikah 9 — Knownots -
"By the way, when i spit don't get hit by a stray"
Benefit — Proceed With Caution
Words that rhyme with stray
Usage tips for "stray"
Understanding the precise definition of a word helps you use it with confidence. When using "stray" in your writing, consider whether you need the word itself or one of its synonyms — subtle differences in meaning can change the tone of a sentence. If you're writing poetry or song lyrics, check the rhymes for stray to find words that pair well.