waft

1 of 3

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 3

noun (1)

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

wafter

3 of 3

noun (2)

waft·​er

"+ə(r)

plural -s

1

: one that wafts

specifically : a revolving disk or fan for a blower

2

obsolete : a transport or passenger boat or its master

also : a warship serving as a convoy to such a boat

Synonyms of waft

Verb

• hover
• sail
• float
• drift
• swim

Noun (1)

• 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 (1)

wafts carrying the scent of spring flowers

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

For 15 minutes our sauna master, Kyan Van Haasteren, a young, blond Dutchman, theatrically waved a towel over scorching sauna stones to waft steam toward me and 32 other guests. — Jen Murphy, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Nov. 2026

Sausage and Egg Casserole There’s no greater feeling than waking up on Christmas morning to the smell of a delicious breakfast casserole wafting from your kitchen. — Melinda Salchert, Southern Living, 10 Nov. 2026

Noun

For years, scientists have explored how the molecules that waft from our breath or skin might be harnessed to sniff out a laundry list of diseases — Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, certain cancers, the flu and the common cold. — Marta Zaraaska, Washington Post, 1 Nov. 2026

The plot’s engine sputters as the film contentedly wafts just out of reach. — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 11 Sep. 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

Noun (2)

Middle English waughter convoy, commander of a convoy, from (assumed) Middle English waughten to guard, convoy + Middle English -er

First Known Use

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Noun (1)

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