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
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Recent Examples of drift
Justin Lewis, CBS News, 27 Jan. 2026
The Haycrafts had drifted apart around this time, after one of their sons died in an accident, and Anna became vehemently religious.
—Christopher Tayler, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
Bryan Hendricks, Arkansas Online, 25 Jan. 2026
When traveling in high elevations where the snow could be more than a few inches deep for extended stretches, carry snowshoes, and consider getting some tall gaiters to keep any snow out of your boots, like this pair from Outdoor Research ($49), ideal for trekking through deeper drifts.
—Kaelyn Lynch, Outside, 23 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for drift
Verb
Light flurries may drift through by the afternoon, but the dominant theme remains the cold, with wind chill values only 5° to 10°.
—Justin Lewis, CBS News, 27 Jan. 2026
The Haycrafts had drifted apart around this time, after one of their sons died in an accident, and Anna became vehemently religious.
—Christopher Tayler, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
Noun
That is a highly technical presentation that requires the use of oars to manage the drift.
—Bryan Hendricks, Arkansas Online, 25 Jan. 2026
When traveling in high elevations where the snow could be more than a few inches deep for extended stretches, carry snowshoes, and consider getting some tall gaiters to keep any snow out of your boots, like this pair from Outdoor Research ($49), ideal for trekking through deeper drifts.
—Kaelyn Lynch, Outside, 23 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for drift
Recent Examples of Synonyms for drift
Verb
-
This sets a self-regulating Eddington limit, which is, in essence, a speed limit on how fast gas can flow in.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
23 Jan. 2026
-
Transparency and clarity — not to mention paying on time — are key to getting the vendor community back on board and the merchandise flowing again to stores.—
David Moin,
Footwear News,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Chicago's waste diversion rate – the amount of garbage being recycled instead of dumped in landfills – hovers around 10%.—
Tara Molina,
CBS News,
23 Jan. 2026
-
Gross margins hover around 62%, while operating margins climbed to nearly 54% over the past quarter—a solid increase of 500 basis points from a year earlier.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Her third album, which is self-titled, is a document of wandering.—
Marissa Lorusso,
Pitchfork,
26 Jan. 2026
-
This meant that the MQ-20 could fly aggressively without the danger of wandering into restricted civilian airspace or high-threat corridors.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Now, Crawford is looking forward to getting back on the mound and putting 2025 behind him.—
Mac Cerullo,
Boston Herald,
24 Jan. 2026
-
There were two outs in the fifth inning of Game 4 when Toronto manager John Schneider went to the mound intending to lift him.—
Barry M. Bloom,
Forbes.com,
23 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
That line in the sand was wiped out by the next incoming tide.—
Mark Zeigler,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
23 Jan. 2026
-
First, after years of buyers demanding move-in-ready everything and paying a premium to avoid renovations, that tide may be turning.—
John Walkup,
Forbes.com,
23 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
For the Staals, the technology offered a clear sense of what was happening inside Ethan just early enough to help him through it.—
Mayo Clinic News Network,
Boston Herald,
25 Jan. 2026
-
This popular usage makes abundant sense.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
25 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Covering the early 20th century through the present, gliding back and forth between eras with the deftest touch, the film views the living as merely the latest iteration of a fragile species that has been constantly struggling against unseen forces that drag it down, generation after generation.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Jan. 2026
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Grab a crab cocktail, whirl around on the vintage carousel, or set sail on a scenic bay cruise beneath the Golden Gate Bridge, gliding past the city’s iconic skyline.—
Lewis Nunn,
Forbes.com,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The committee floated a proposal to implement new requirements for where these businesses can be built in relation to each other, and to strengthen pre-existing requirements.—
Emily Holshouser,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
13 Jan. 2026
-
His administration is also buying housing bonds and floated the idea of a 50-year mortgage in an effort to bring down the cost of homeownership.—
Liz Hoffman,
semafor.com,
13 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Drift.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drift. Accessed 30 Jan. 2026.
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