rover

1 of 2

noun (1)

ro·​ver ˈrō-vər How to pronounce rover (audio)
Synonyms of rovernext
: pirate

rover

2 of 2

noun (2)

rov·​er ˈrō-vər How to pronounce rover (audio)
1
: a random or long-distance mark in archery
—usually plural
2
: wanderer, roamer
3
: a player who is not assigned to a specific position on a team and who plays wherever needed
4
: a vehicle for exploring the surface of an extraterrestrial body (such as the moon or Mars)

Synonyms of rover

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Noun (2)

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Examples of rover in a Sentence

Noun (2) ever since he developed a strong case of wanderlust in college, he's been a rover a story of the days when sea rovers plied the Caribbean
Recent Examples on the Web
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Noun
My computer screen shows the area in front of Curiosity covered by dots, each one representing a candidate target for the rover to observe with its cameras, its laser spectrometer, or the sensors on its arm. — Ashwin R. Vasavada, The Conversation, 27 Aug. 2026 White thinks Ashlynd Barker will be an All-ACC player or perhaps an All-American at rover. — Bob Ferrante, The Orlando Sentinel, 25 Aug. 2026 Consisting of a lunar orbiter, lander, rover, and a mini-hopper of a probe, the mission was due to launch as early as Sunday on a Long March 5 rocket. — Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 23 Aug. 2026 After touchdown, the rover and hopper will start surveying the surface. — Reuters, NBC news, 21 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for rover

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, from Middle Dutch, from roven to rob; akin to Old English rēafian to reave — more at reave

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

circa 1525, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of rover was in the 14th century

Phrases Containing rover

Rhymes for rover

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Browse Nearby Words

rove-over
rover
rover bellflower
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Cite this Entry

“Rover.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rover. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

rover

2 of 2 noun
rov·​er ˈrō-vər How to pronounce rover (audio)
: a person who roves around : roamer
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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