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
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Recent Examples of drift
Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 28 Sep. 2025
Even minor sparks or drifting embers can incite nearby foliage or grass, setting off a rapidly spreading fire.
—Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 26 Sep. 2025
Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 22 Sep. 2025
Confronted with the arduous task of finding a new identity and replacing their defunct belief system, many of them may, like Changez, drift into a reluctant fundamentalism of their own.
—Pankaj Mishra, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for drift
Verb
This week, Caedan smiled thinking back on his grandmother, then again as his mind drifted to the single mother and two children her legacy now touches.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 28 Sep. 2025
Even minor sparks or drifting embers can incite nearby foliage or grass, setting off a rapidly spreading fire.
—Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 26 Sep. 2025
Noun
But as the battle to save Ransom wages on, a mysterious cowboy drifts into town, dredging up secrets from the past.
—Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 22 Sep. 2025
Confronted with the arduous task of finding a new identity and replacing their defunct belief system, many of them may, like Changez, drift into a reluctant fundamentalism of their own.
—Pankaj Mishra, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for drift
Recent Examples of Synonyms for drift
Verb
-
Indeed, the answer to the question Alan Sparks raised about what happens to all of the money flowing through the county government is one that even local authorities are unable, or unwilling, to answer.—
Mitch Moxley,
Rolling Stone,
27 Sep. 2025
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Here, the local world flows straight into your own private escape, creating an unrivaled, unforgettable vacation experience.—
AFAR Media,
AFAR Media,
27 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
This year, their record after the All-Star break hovered within the Top 10 in the Major Leagues, but their 41-57 hole to begin the year was too difficult to emerge from.—
Chris Biderman,
Sacbee.com,
27 Sep. 2025
-
No aura of ambiguity hovers over Catherine Leroy’s photographs.—
Louis Menand,
New Yorker,
27 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
There’s the feeling that this is all just another day at the office, albeit one with enormous gladiators wandering around in the background.—
Richard Lawson,
Rolling Stone,
1 Oct. 2025
-
Sandberg was there wandering around the clubhouse sopping wet from a mixture of champagne, beer and rain water along with other Cub greats, protected by a yellow rain slicker.—
Barry M. Bloom,
Sportico.com,
1 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The comeback began with Garrett Whitlock, the last vestige of the pitching staff from Boston’s most recent playoff run, taking the mound for the eighth inning.—
Gabrielle Starr,
Boston Herald,
27 Sep. 2025
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Noah Cameron walked confidently off the mound for the final time in the 2025 season.—
Jaylon Thompson,
Kansas City Star,
27 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Long before the clock almost expired on the Packers, there was yet another special teams blunder that turned the tide on a game seemingly destined for a blowout.—
Matt Schneidman,
New York Times,
29 Sep. 2025
-
Rather than fighting this inevitable tide, Köhler closely examines the subject without didacticism, filtering it through a passive-aggressive relationship drama, until only its most potent ingredients remain.—
Siddhant Adlakha,
Variety,
28 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Your goals can determine the type of account that makes the most sense.—
Andreina Rodriguez,
CNBC,
1 Oct. 2025
-
For a generation living in great uncertainty—from the GFC to COVID to cost-of-living pressures—Trump’s disruptive appeal offers both a protest and a sense of control.—
Kate Plummer,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
But their insect-like movements hint at a future where fleets of miniature robots could glide across water, performing tasks once too dangerous or delicate for humans.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
26 Sep. 2025
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In the underwater footage, a barracuda is shown gliding through turquoise-green waters, very close to the camera.—
Soo Kim,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Sep. 2025
Verb
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During the ritual, a trio of local men played Balinese instruments as incense floated through the air.—
Kathryn Romeyn,
Travel + Leisure,
28 Sep. 2025
-
Europe is rich, yet no one can explain why German trains are not on time anymore, or why there is no way to avoid feces floating in Britain’s rivers.—
Renaud Foucart,
Time,
28 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Drift.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drift. Accessed 2 Oct. 2025.
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