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
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Recent Examples of drift
Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 2 Sep. 2025
Potential concerns included security and nearby farm pesticides drifting into the outdoor growing areas.
—Robert McCoppin, Chicago Tribune, 2 Sep. 2025
Literary Hub, 28 Aug. 2025
But radical shifts in the media landscape and Vanity Fair’s slow editorial drift away from gauzy Hollywood nostalgia to chase social traffic have allowed other titles at Condé Nast like Vogue, The New Yorker, GQ, and even Wired to overshadow it.
—Max Tani, semafor.com, 25 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for drift
Verb
Why a piece of a turbine blade ended up drifting in the sea is still unknown.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 2 Sep. 2025
Potential concerns included security and nearby farm pesticides drifting into the outdoor growing areas.
—Robert McCoppin, Chicago Tribune, 2 Sep. 2025
Noun
The drifts of powder, scattered by her haste, gather in the runnels of the tabletop.
—Literary Hub, 28 Aug. 2025
But radical shifts in the media landscape and Vanity Fair’s slow editorial drift away from gauzy Hollywood nostalgia to chase social traffic have allowed other titles at Condé Nast like Vogue, The New Yorker, GQ, and even Wired to overshadow it.
—Max Tani, semafor.com, 25 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for drift
Recent Examples of Synonyms for drift
Verb
-
Raft the Animas River Colorado’s world-famous whitewater includes the Animas River, which flows by Durango.—
Cu Fleshman,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Sep. 2025
-
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
-
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
-
While there’s not a lot to see and do, every bit of it is worth experiencing, so pick a pretty day and wander over to Waverly for a few hours of chatting with friendly folks, digging into good food, and scouring shelves for cool finds.—
Jennifer Stewart Kornegay,
Southern Living,
3 Sep. 2025
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Whether sailing across Lake Zurich or wandering the Kunsthaus, the city reveals itself seductively.—
Lewis Nunn,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
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
-
There is a world in which the actress once known as America’s sweetheart can turn the tide her way, with voters nominating her for Best Actress as a vote of confidence toward her purposefully polarizing character.—
Marcus Jones,
IndieWire,
29 Aug. 2025
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That series, which is being repped internationally by Beta Film, tells the story of the real-life Hungarian army commander Janos Hunyadi, who turned back the tide of the Ottoman Empire’s seemingly unstoppable advance into Europe at the Battle of Belgrade in 1456.—
Christopher Vourlias,
Variety,
28 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
This has for decades been underpinned by voluntary pricing agreements — voluntary in the sense that non-voluntary terms would have been worse — between the industry and the NHS.—
Ian King,
CNBC,
3 Sep. 2025
-
There is no sense of responsibility or critical assessment of the causes of the refusal to publish in Israel while the massacre continues.—
Uriel Kon
September 2,
Literary Hub,
2 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
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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 9 Sep. 2025.
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