waft

verb \ ˈwäft , ˈwaft \

Updated on: 19 Apr 2018

Definition of waft

intransitive verb

: to move or go lightly on or as if on a buoyant medium

heavenly aromas wafted from the kitchen

transitive verb

: to cause to move or go lightly by or as if by the impulse of wind or waves

—

wafter

noun

See waft defined for English-language learners

See waft defined for kids

Examples of waft in a Sentence

The smell of chicken soup wafted up to my bedroom.
The sound of music wafted softly into the yard from our neighbor's house.
A breeze wafted the scent of roses towards our table.

Recent Examples of waft from the Web

Canned music wafting toward the water feels like a violation of the spirit of forever, open, clear, and free. 7.

— mary schmich, chicagotribune.com, "A good book, a clean window, a flower show: 9 things to enjoy right now," 13 Apr. 2018
That same year, the Oregon Court of Appeals reversed the conviction of a Philomath man who was convicted of criminal mischief after his neighbors complained about the constant stench of his pot smoke wafting over to their apartments.

— aimee green, OregonLive.com, "Pearl District pot shop says it's not smelly, asks judge for help to stay put," 6 Apr. 2018
Above them, groceries and made-to-order meals, gathered by store attendants from shelves and nearby cooking stations, were wafted on aerial conveyor belts into a storeroom.

— The Economist, "Online retailers go offline in China," 5 Apr. 2018
The details are riveting and vivid: everything from deers’ wafting strands of hair to the way light bounces off of nearby puddles and the markings on Kratos’ skin appears genuine.

— lisa eadicicco, Time, "The New God of War Game Is Unlike Any You've Played Before," 19 Mar. 2018
While some people stepped away from their day jobs to visit the bakery, others arrived with wide-eyed and eager children, as the smell of frosting wafted through the air.

— steve annear, BostonGlobe.com, "Magnolia Bakery opens in Faneuil Hall — and customers flock to it like it’s the year 2000," 29 Mar. 2018
Detectives also noted a strong pot smell wafting out of the Cadillac Ruidiaz originally arrived in and found the car’s owner, Ravenne Osceola, inside.

— howard cohen, miamiherald, "He smelled a bag, then smiled ‘in joy.’ Cops are happy, too, at what they found inside | Miami Herald," 20 Mar. 2018
Last year, festival timing was optimal, and the Instagram-ready wisteria was in full tilt prime, blasting out about 1.5 million blooms, and wafting its signature scent.

— r. daniel foster, latimes.com, "Your once-a-year shot to see a freakishly large wisteria vine," 16 Mar. 2018
In a market where brick-and-mortar galleries are burdened by rising rents and pricey art fairs, sales wafting in from Artsy seem like so many check-laden Christmas cards.

— michael shnayerson, Town & Country, "Artsy's Wendi Murdoch Just Wants to Sell You a Painting," 15 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'waft.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.