drift off
phrasal verb
drifted off; drifting off; drifts off
informal
: to fall asleep
She drifted off while I was still talking.
He gradually drifted off to sleep.
Examples of drift off in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
When the blackout occurred, the ship’s rudder was turned 3 degrees to the starboard side and remained stuck there as the vessel drifted off course.
—
USA TODAY, 11 Apr. 2024
That curiosity, though, gradually wanes due to the situations becoming more exaggerated and absurd as the season drags on, with the whale serving as a very big sign of how much the writing has drifted off course.
—Brian Lowry, CNN, 19 Mar. 2024
Depending on its features, a crib mobile can also serve as a sound machine and provide a relaxing visual as your baby drifts off to sleep.
—Bridget Shirvell, Parents, 26 Mar. 2024
China has maintained the balloon was a civilian vessel that had drifted off course.
—James Farrell, Forbes, 24 Feb. 2024
That night, the younger bear carved out a resting place and drifted off, setting the perfect scene for Sarikhani's photo.
—USA TODAY, 10 Feb. 2024
Edwards’ Kia drifted off the road and got stuck on some rocks under a bridge, enabling the police cars to catch up.
—Erin B. Logan, Los Angeles Times, 2 Feb. 2024
Lord Jones – High CBD Bath Salts In the mood to drift off to a relaxing place?
—Erin Michelle Newberg, Miami Herald, 30 Jan. 2024
The moon is gradually straying away from its host; in contrast to the dramatic collision that might lie in Phobos’ future, Deimos’ fate is to eventually escape the gravity of Mars and drift off into space.
—Carlyn Kranking, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 Feb. 2024
USA TODAY, 11 Apr. 2024
That curiosity, though, gradually wanes due to the situations becoming more exaggerated and absurd as the season drags on, with the whale serving as a very big sign of how much the writing has drifted off course.
—Brian Lowry, CNN, 19 Mar. 2024
Depending on its features, a crib mobile can also serve as a sound machine and provide a relaxing visual as your baby drifts off to sleep.
—Bridget Shirvell, Parents, 26 Mar. 2024
China has maintained the balloon was a civilian vessel that had drifted off course.
—James Farrell, Forbes, 24 Feb. 2024
That night, the younger bear carved out a resting place and drifted off, setting the perfect scene for Sarikhani's photo.
—USA TODAY, 10 Feb. 2024
Edwards’ Kia drifted off the road and got stuck on some rocks under a bridge, enabling the police cars to catch up.
—Erin B. Logan, Los Angeles Times, 2 Feb. 2024
Lord Jones – High CBD Bath Salts In the mood to drift off to a relaxing place?
—Erin Michelle Newberg, Miami Herald, 30 Jan. 2024
The moon is gradually straying away from its host; in contrast to the dramatic collision that might lie in Phobos’ future, Deimos’ fate is to eventually escape the gravity of Mars and drift off into space.
—Carlyn Kranking, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'drift off.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near drift off
Cite this Entry
“Drift off.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/drift%20off. Accessed 28 Apr. 2024.
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