bum around

In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.

Meaning · English

To wander around idly to no purpose; to loaf or loiter.

Register: informal

Where it’s used: Used American English

Examples

Along the way, he dropped out of sight several times to bum around South America.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “bum around” mean?

To wander around idly to no purpose; to loaf or loiter.

Is “bum around” formal or informal?

bum around is generally informal.