1
as in to flow
to move or proceed smoothly and readily
casual conversation drifting from one topic to another
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to hover
to rest or move along the surface of a liquid or in the air
the boat drifted along on the current
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to wander
to move about from place to place aimlessly
spent several years drifting from town to town, picking up odd jobs whenever he needed cash
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
2
as in tide
a prevailing or general movement or inclination
the steady drift of the population away from large cities
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in sense
the idea that is conveyed or intended to be conveyed to the mind by language, symbol, or action
you should expect a visit from the stork, if you get my drift
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of drift
David M. Drucker, Twin Cities, 19 Oct. 2025
People drifted away and Central City fell on tough times.
—John Aguilar, Denver Post, 19 Oct. 2025
Nathan Heller, Vogue, 14 Oct. 2025
The trio lets their imaginations drift, stretching out ideas of structure and frolicking with unexpected arrangements, often midsong.
—Julyssa Lopez, Rolling Stone, 10 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for drift
Verb
Douglas Holtz-Eakin, president of the conservative nonprofit American Action Forum, has watched glumly as Republicans have drifted away from their small-government traditions.
—David M. Drucker, Twin Cities, 19 Oct. 2025
People drifted away and Central City fell on tough times.
—John Aguilar, Denver Post, 19 Oct. 2025
Noun
Tufts of acacia pollen drift down the slope of the rue d’Alésia, and the neighborhood is out for morning errands.
—Nathan Heller, Vogue, 14 Oct. 2025
The trio lets their imaginations drift, stretching out ideas of structure and frolicking with unexpected arrangements, often midsong.
—Julyssa Lopez, Rolling Stone, 10 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for drift
Recent Examples of Synonyms for drift
Verb
-
Fiercely and humanely protect whatever gives you the most joy and grounding as it is needed to provide the core energy and wellspring from which everything else flows.—
Kat McGowan,
NPR,
18 Oct. 2025
-
Brandy and Monica were on their feet for almost every song, grooving alongside a captivating ensemble of dancers who flowed through hip hop and contemporary dance styles.—
Tamia Fowlkes,
jsonline.com,
18 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Weekly jobless claims remain volatile, hovering around 217,000 as of mid-October, while consumer confidence has stagnated at historically low levels.—
Martha McHardy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Oct. 2025
-
Just smear fake blood on your face, get gussied up in your finest wedding attire, and make sure to pose throughout the night, your lips hovering just inches away from each other, but never quite touching.—
James Factora,
Them.,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The latest offering – the Nomads – is designed for folks who like to wander, and can be had with three batteries.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
22 Oct. 2025
-
Others let their curiosity get the best of them and wander out into the world through a new hole in the fence.—
Cody Godwin,
USA Today,
22 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
And the right-hander was outstanding on the mound as well.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
18 Oct. 2025
-
Ohtani took the mound to start against the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 4 of the National League Championship Series at Dodger Stadium on Friday night.—
Barry M. Bloom,
Sportico.com,
18 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
But there’s no stopping this tide of change, and never has been.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 Oct. 2025
-
The tide, however, may be turning.—
Alexandra Schwartz,
New Yorker,
20 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Both of those rankings praised the city for offering a sense of community, mountain scenery and a bustling arts scene.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
21 Oct. 2025
-
There was a sense of Diana and Charles arriving at Westminster Abbey in separate coaches on the day of the coronation.—
Simon Perry,
PEOPLE,
21 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Her voice, languid and honeyed, can glide over sensual R&B, bouncing reggaetón, shimmering pop or nostalgic jazz.—
Isabela Raygoza,
Billboard,
16 Oct. 2025
-
Lego Batman can effortlessly glide from foe to foe, linking punches and kicks from one bad guy to the next.—
Jordan Moreau,
Variety,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The project was built over 10 years, during which the architects combined local materials with advanced engineering to ensure the building’s striking, floating appearance was matched by practical functionality and structural stability.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
19 Oct. 2025
-
Since Hereditary floated into theaters in 2018, writer-director Ari Aster has evolved his interests considerably, from the sunny folk-horror of Midsommar (2019) to the phantasmagoric Beau Is Afraid (2023) to the social thriller Eddington (2025).—
Gwen Ihnat,
Entertainment Weekly,
18 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Drift.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drift. Accessed 24 Oct. 2025.
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