plural drifts
1
a
: the act of driving something along
b
: the flow or the velocity of the current of a river or ocean stream
2
: something driven, propelled, or urged along or drawn together in a clump by or as if by a natural agency: such as
a
: wind-driven snow, rain, cloud, dust, or smoke usually at or near the ground surface
b(1)
: a mass of matter (such as sand) deposited together by or as if by wind or water
(2)
: a helter-skelter accumulation
d
: something (such as driftwood) washed ashore
e
: rock debris deposited by natural agents
specifically
: a deposit of clay, sand, gravel, and boulders transported by a glacier or by running water from a glacier
3
a
: a general underlying design or tendency
perceiving the drift of the government's policies
b
: the underlying meaning, import, or purport of what is spoken or written
the drift of a conversation
4
: something (such as a tool) driven down upon or forced into a body
5
: the motion or action of drifting especially spatially and usually under external influence: such as
a
: the lateral motion of an aircraft due to air currents
b
: an easy moderate more or less steady flow or sweep along a spatial course
c
: a gradual shift in attitude, opinion, or position
d
: an aimless course
especially
: a forgoing of any attempt at direction or control
e
: a deviation from a true reproduction, representation, or reading
especially
: a gradual change in the zero reading of an instrument or in any quantitative characteristic that is supposed to remain constant
f
: a deliberate, controlled skid by a vehicle turning through a corner at high speed : an instance of automotive drifting
Backing off the throttle on corner entries induces a soupçon of oversteer, just enough to allow a little sliding at the apex in an easily controlled four-wheel drift, that most delightful of sports-car experiences—when it doesn't hurl one off a cliff.—
Tony Swan
Tony Swancalled also powerslide
6
a
: a nearly horizontal mine passageway driven on or parallel to the course of a vein or rock stratum
b
: a small crosscut in a mine connecting two larger tunnels
7
a
: an assumed trend toward a general change in the structure of a language over a period of time
b
8
: a grouping of similar flowers planted in an elongated mass
drifted; drifting; drifts
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
1
a
: to cause to be driven in a current
b
Western US
: to drive (livestock) slowly especially to allow grazing
2
a
: to pile in heaps
b
: to cover with drifts
Examples of drift in a Sentence
Noun
the slow drift of the clouds
As she got older, you could observe a drift in her writing towards more serious subjects.
the government's drift towards a centralization of power
Verb
The boat slowly drifted out to sea.
The clouds drifted across the sky.
The snow drifted against the side of the house.
Drifting snow covered most of the car.
The party guests drifted from room to room, eating and mingling.
Her eyes drifted across the crowd.
The conversation drifted from topic to topic.
My thoughts drifted back to the time when we first met.
After he left the army he just drifted for a few years.
She drifted from job to job.
Recent Examples on the Web
Jonathan Garrett, The Atlantic, 29 Oct. 2025
But moreso, this is the culmination of Kevin Parker’s decadelong drift to the center of the pop music universe.
—Eric Renner Brown, Billboard, 28 Oct. 2025
The Athletic Uk Staff, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
The storm is due to drift west Saturday and could move on to, or just south of Jamaica, early next week.
—Josh Cradduck, NBC news, 24 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for drift
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
Even the word streaming suggests a frictionless drift from one song to the next.
—Jonathan Garrett, The Atlantic, 29 Oct. 2025
But moreso, this is the culmination of Kevin Parker’s decadelong drift to the center of the pop music universe.
—Eric Renner Brown, Billboard, 28 Oct. 2025
Verb
Mbeumo would drift wide to duel with Virgil van Dijk or Kerkez after long passes from goalkeeper Senne Lammens, who kicked long 45 times on Sunday.
—The Athletic Uk Staff, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
The storm is due to drift west Saturday and could move on to, or just south of Jamaica, early next week.
—Josh Cradduck, NBC news, 24 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for drift
Cite this Entry
“Drift.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/drift. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
drift
1 of 2 noun1
a
: a drifting motion or course
b
: the flow or the velocity of a river or ocean stream
2
a
: wind-driven snow, rain, cloud, dust, or smoke usually near the ground
b
: a mass of matter (as sand) deposited by or as if by wind or water
c
: a deposit of clay, sand, gravel, and boulders transported by a glacier or by running water from a glacier
3
a
: a course something appears to be taking
b
: the underlying meaning of what is said or written
following the drift of the conversation
drift
2 of 2 verb1
: to become or cause to be driven or carried along by a current of water, wind, or air
2
: to move along without effort
3
: to be piled up in heaps by wind or water
Medical Definition
drift
noun1
: movement of a tooth in the dental arch
2
drift
intransitive verb
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