1
as in to flow
to move or proceed smoothly and readily
casual conversation drifting from one topic to another
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to hover
to rest or move along the surface of a liquid or in the air
the boat drifted along on the current
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to wander
to move about from place to place aimlessly
spent several years drifting from town to town, picking up odd jobs whenever he needed cash
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
2
as in tide
a prevailing or general movement or inclination
the steady drift of the population away from large cities
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in sense
the idea that is conveyed or intended to be conveyed to the mind by language, symbol, or action
you should expect a visit from the stork, if you get my drift
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of drift
Seth Wickersham, The Atlantic, 8 Sep. 2025
Shares in both Fox and News Corp drifted down Monday after the close of trading on news of the settlement.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 8 Sep. 2025
Keenan Thompson, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2025
The video shows the shark's dorsal fin cutting across the water before the giant fish drifts along the side of the kayak, its skin visible just below the surface.
—Soo Kim, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for drift
Verb
But, as always, the talk drifts toward quarterbacks, that uniquely American job with uniquely American responsibilities.
—Seth Wickersham, The Atlantic, 8 Sep. 2025
Shares in both Fox and News Corp drifted down Monday after the close of trading on news of the settlement.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 8 Sep. 2025
Noun
Not every car or truck had a proper drift build in the pit.
—Keenan Thompson, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2025
The video shows the shark's dorsal fin cutting across the water before the giant fish drifts along the side of the kayak, its skin visible just below the surface.
—Soo Kim, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for drift
Recent Examples of Synonyms for drift
Verb
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Raft the Animas River Colorado’s world-famous whitewater includes the Animas River, which flows by Durango.—
Cu Fleshman,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Sep. 2025
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Alcaraz flowed forward behind a forehand, but chose to try to fool Djokovic by volleying back behind him, instead of into space.—
The Athletic Tennis Staff,
New York Times,
6 Sep. 2025
Verb
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As for most of the tournament, Sinner’s first-serve percentage hovered around 50, and Auger-Aliassime took the initiative with flashing forehands and the bravery to go after his shots in baseline rallies.—
Charlie Eccleshare,
New York Times,
6 Sep. 2025
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In addition to the newfound in-state rivalry, a sense of nostalgia hovered over pregame activities.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
6 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Her task now is simply to wander, wait and listen.—
Ari Daniel,
NPR,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Despite its common name, this creature wasn’t simply a lion that wandered into the Americas.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Shortly after scoring the Phillies’ second run in a series-clinching 2-0 win against the Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday, Bader saved what might have been a home run, then chest-bumped Marsh as closer Jhoan Duran smiled on the mound.—
Charlotte Varnes,
New York Times,
5 Sep. 2025
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Explore the reconstructed mound and structures to learn about the rich Native American history of the region.—
Melissa Oyler,
Charlotte Observer,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Levine Cava noted that her 2026 budget proposal has funds for a new animal shelter in South Miami-Dade but that sterilization efforts need to increase significantly to turn the tide on the dog population.—
Amanda Rosa,
Miami Herald,
8 Sep. 2025
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Although the tide is turning (subscription required), there’s still a misconception that the trades are low-paying, dead-end jobs.—
Andrew Schaap,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Bryce Young has to be better After building up an immense sense of goodwill, locally and nationally, with his second-half performance from last year, Young essentially melted away in the Jacksonville heat.—
DIAMOND VENCES,
Charlotte Observer,
10 Sep. 2025
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Giving people a greater sense of agency.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Thanks to the wide-leg cut and handy side pockets, wearing these make gliding through the airport feel like a breeze.—
Chaise Sanders,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Sep. 2025
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Location Anchored between Blackfriars Bridge and the Tate Modern, Sea Containers is a front-row perch to London’s cultural tide—where the Thames unfurls like a silver sash, ferries gliding past in a daily ballet of commuters and sightseers.—
Lewis Nunn,
Forbes.com,
6 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Purdy scrambled to his right and floated a ball toward backup tight end Jake Tonges in the back of the end zone.—
Michael-Shawn Dugar,
New York Times,
8 Sep. 2025
-
There are a few self-balancing concepts floating about, including ones from Honda and Yamaha and this entirely self-driving scooter, but nothing's close to hitting the market anytime soon.—
Abhimanyu Ghoshal,
New Atlas,
7 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Drift.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drift. Accessed 13 Sep. 2025.
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