waft

1 of 2

verb

ˈwäft  ˈwaft 

wafted; wafting; wafts

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

waft

2 of 2

noun

1

: something (such as an odor) that is wafted : whiff

2

: a slight breeze : puff

3

: the act of waving

4

: a pennant or flag used to signal or to show wind direction

Synonyms of waft

Verb

• hover
• sail
• float
• drift
• swim

Noun

• breeze
• puff
• breath

Examples of waft in a Sentence

Verb

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.

Noun

wafts carrying the scent of spring flowers

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

There were obstacles to women owning a home, having credit in their own name, and taking out loans, so Parton moved like perfume, wafting through the world of men while always doing things her own way. — Shima Oliaee, Time, 26 Aug. 2026

That kind of tall tale spirit wafted through the air the entire night, says Miller. — Selena Fragassi, SPIN, 24 Aug. 2026

Noun

When the wind shifts, the smells from the warehouse waft miles away, even weeks after the fire was extinguished. — Celina Tebor, CNN Money, 8 Aug. 2026

Spritz it in the morning and prepare for subtle, spa-like wafts of forest floor throughout the day. — Jenny Berg, Vogue, 4 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, perhaps from past participle of Middle English (northern dialect) waffen, by-form of Middle English waven to wave

First Known Use

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Noun

1607, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for waft

• coughed
• croft
• doffed
• loft
• oft
• scoffed
• soft
• toft
• aloft
• hayloft

Kids Definition

waft

1 of 2 verb

ˈwäft  ˈwaft 

: to move or be moved lightly by or as if by the action of wind or waves

waft

2 of 2 noun

: a slight breeze : puff