drift

²drift

verb

Definition of DRIFT

intransitive verb

1

a : to become driven or carried along (as by a current of water, wind, or air) <a balloon drifting in the wind> b : to move or float smoothly and effortlessly

2

a : to move along a line of least resistance b : to move in a random or casual way c : to become carried along subject to no guidance or control <the talk drifted from topic to topic>

3

a : to accumulate in a mass or become piled up in heaps by wind or water <drifting snow> b : to become covered with a drift

4

: to vary or deviate from a set course or adjustment

transitive verb

1

a : to cause to be driven in a current b West : to drive (livestock) slowly especially to allow grazing

2

a : to pile in heaps b : to cover with drifts

— drift·ing·ly \ˈdrif-tiŋ-lē\ adverb

Examples of DRIFT

1. The boat slowly drifted out to sea.
2. The clouds drifted across the sky.
3. The snow drifted against the side of the house.
4. Drifting snow covered most of the car.
5. The party guests drifted from room to room, eating and mingling.
6. Her eyes drifted across the crowd.
7. The conversation drifted from topic to topic.
8. My thoughts drifted back to the time when we first met.
9. After he left the army he just drifted for a few years.
10. She drifted from job to job.

First Known Use of DRIFT

circa 1600

Related to DRIFT

Synonyms: bowl, breeze, brush, coast, cruise, flow, glide, roll, sail, skim, slide, slip, stream, sweep, whisk

Antonyms: flounder, struggle

Related Words: fly, race, rush, speed

Near Antonyms: limp, lumber, plod, stumble, trudge; shamble, shuffle; stamp, stomp, stump, tramp; labor, toil

see all synonyms and antonyms

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