Straying

Straying refers to the act of departing from a settled course, established path, standard, or intended goal, often involving wandering, deviating, or going astray. It can apply to physical movement, thought processes, moral conduct, or the adherence to rules or principles. The implication often suggests a loss of direction, purpose, or the crossing of boundaries, whether intentional or unintentional. straying implies a departure from an expected or desired state, carrying connotations of divergence, digression, or errancy, potentially leading to negative consequences or unwanted outcomes.

Straying meaning with examples

• The lost dog was seen straying through the park, its collar dangling. Despite the fence, her thoughts were always straying to the upcoming trip, making it hard to focus on work. He was warned to not get distracted while making the presentation and his attention kept straying. The politician’s words caused his supporter's' faith to start straying.
• During the investigation, they found the financial records straying from the ethical code. The detective followed the suspect, observing him straying further from the main road, as if trying to get lost. Her gaze kept straying to the clock, longing for the end of the long meeting. The algorithm was flagged as straying and the program was shut down.
• After his car accident, his mind was often straying in the past as he struggled to recover his lost memories. The hiker, disoriented and lost, was seen straying aimlessly through the dense forest. The students' answers in class were constantly straying away from the topic.
• The shepherd's flock was constantly straying away from the safe grazing fields, so she had to set up an extra fence. Her feelings toward him began straying from romantic inclinations to plain boredom and the relationship ended. The project's budget kept straying from the original estimate.
• The journalist's article had begun straying from the truth to accommodate more sensational storytelling. The young child, distracted by a butterfly, was seen straying away from his parents at the crowded festival. During the meditation, the practitioner’s mind was always straying to thoughts of food and the work that needed to be completed.