1
as in ranging
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1
as in flowing
to move or proceed smoothly and readily
casual conversation drifting from one topic to another
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2
as in floating
to rest or move along the surface of a liquid or in the air
the boat drifted along on the current
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3
as in wandering
to move about from place to place aimlessly
spent several years drifting from town to town, picking up odd jobs whenever he needed cash
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of drifting
Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 10 Nov. 2025
Alex Iwobi, generally tasked with drifting inside from the flank and releasing a full-back on the overlap, started as a central midfielder.
—Michael Cox, New York Times, 10 Nov. 2025
Snow rates could reach over 3 inches per hour, and winds of up to 30 mph are also expected to cause blowing and drifting snow, especially near the lake shoreline.
—Amanda Greenwood, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Nov. 2025
To evaluate its performance, researchers applied a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model called Snowbedfoam to simulate snow transport and assess the snow-drifting effects around Helioplant systems.
—Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 8 Nov. 2025
The season transforms the city’s historic streets into something out of a snow globe—brick row houses dusted in white, gas lamps flickering through the early dusk, and the smell of soul-warming seafood chowder drifting from restaurants in the Seaport area.
—Mark Ellwood, AFAR Media, 7 Nov. 2025
My attention kept drifting to a few older couples, dressed in their best outfits, taking in the scene.
—Marta Tucci, Travel + Leisure, 5 Nov. 2025
At 14, Wuornos gave birth to a son who was placed for adoption, and she was soon pushed out of the home and began drifting and hitchhiking, per the Netflix documentary.
—Christina Coulter, PEOPLE, 30 Oct. 2025
While the workers, in the trees, stay still, the bull’s looming, drifting presence gives frozen stillness an unambiguous motive and makes moments when people shift and even leap from branch to branch terrifyingly suspenseful.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 30 Oct. 2025
Verb
The image above, a composite of eight days of observations taken in March when the spacecraft had its first clear view of the region, shows bright arcs sweeping around the pole — glowing traces left by magnetic structures drifting toward the sun's edge at unexpectedly high speeds.
—Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 10 Nov. 2025
Alex Iwobi, generally tasked with drifting inside from the flank and releasing a full-back on the overlap, started as a central midfielder.
—Michael Cox, New York Times, 10 Nov. 2025
Snow rates could reach over 3 inches per hour, and winds of up to 30 mph are also expected to cause blowing and drifting snow, especially near the lake shoreline.
—Amanda Greenwood, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Nov. 2025
To evaluate its performance, researchers applied a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model called Snowbedfoam to simulate snow transport and assess the snow-drifting effects around Helioplant systems.
—Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 8 Nov. 2025
The season transforms the city’s historic streets into something out of a snow globe—brick row houses dusted in white, gas lamps flickering through the early dusk, and the smell of soul-warming seafood chowder drifting from restaurants in the Seaport area.
—Mark Ellwood, AFAR Media, 7 Nov. 2025
My attention kept drifting to a few older couples, dressed in their best outfits, taking in the scene.
—Marta Tucci, Travel + Leisure, 5 Nov. 2025
At 14, Wuornos gave birth to a son who was placed for adoption, and she was soon pushed out of the home and began drifting and hitchhiking, per the Netflix documentary.
—Christina Coulter, PEOPLE, 30 Oct. 2025
While the workers, in the trees, stay still, the bull’s looming, drifting presence gives frozen stillness an unambiguous motive and makes moments when people shift and even leap from branch to branch terrifyingly suspenseful.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 30 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for drifting
Verb
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Styled by Sarah Slutsky Tooley, Zegler’s glam was provided by hair stylist Dana Boyer, who styled the actress’ hair with a side part and a flowing natural style, and makeup artist Kale Teter.—
Julia Teti,
Footwear News,
5 Nov. 2025
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The race has been marked by barbs between Huffman and Wambsganss, as both try to win over the conservative vote, and flowing money, as billionaires waded into the North Texas election.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The Museu de Arte de São Paulo Assis Chateaubriand (MASP) is not only an important museum in Latin America, its original building is also a cultural landmark dramatically hovering over Avenida Paulista.—
Jade Moyano,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Nov. 2025
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Chicago Public Schools have had to move elementary school recess indoors after tear gas was deployed and teachers have complained of helicopters hovering over their schools, scaring students.—
Natasha Korecki,
NBC news,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Sheriff’s officials have said Chastain was intoxicated and wandering the neighborhood in the moments before the fatal attack.—
Rosalio Ahumada,
Sacbee.com,
11 Nov. 2025
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Fall offers perfect weather for wandering through Wilmington's 230-block National Register Historic District, one of the largest in the country.—
Gabi De la Rosa,
Southern Living,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The nozzle pours a thick stream of concrete while gliding precisely on its course, stacking each layer, one after another, about an inch thick.—
Jake Goodrick,
Sacbee.com,
8 Nov. 2025
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China has deployed and tested hypersonic glide vehicles and road-mobile systems, such as the DF-17/DF-ZF family, which are typically characterized as gliding at Mach 5–10 and designed to complicate missile-defense engagement.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
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While the white shiplap interior, floor-to-ceiling windows, and floating staircase create an airy feel, there’s also plenty of texture among the leather, wood and rattan furnishings to warm things up.—
Lori Keong,
Architectural Digest,
6 Nov. 2025
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Hu also revealed that China is exploring other nuclear vessels, including a Suezmax oil tanker powered by a lead-bismuth cooled fast reactor and a floating nuclear power station.—
Aman Tripathi,
Interesting Engineering,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The set-up inside the circle felt more like a rehearsal space, with the group clustered together while also roaming freely around the stage, playing to different parts of the audience.—
Daniel Dylan Wray,
Pitchfork,
5 Nov. 2025
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In the lead-up to Election Day, Sliwa has only ramped up his campaign, packing his schedule and roaming across all five boroughs.—
Naaman Zhou,
New Yorker,
3 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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The Gerbi family also controls the trendy Paris retailer Merci, a rambling concept shop that opened in 2009 with a charitable mission.—
Samantha Conti,
Footwear News,
5 Nov. 2025
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Kiley, 40, a Republican, is in his second term representing a rambling district that stretches from the northeastern Sacramento suburbs, through Placer and nearby counties and down to Death Valley.—
David Lightman,
Sacbee.com,
5 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Of the other methods – including electrocution, lethal gas and hanging – lethal injection had the highest botch rate of more than 7%. ‘An embrace of brutality’ Still, states have remained averse to the firing squad, a position that experts who spoke to CNN believe stems from its overt violence.—
Dakin Andone,
CNN Money,
10 Apr. 2025
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The neutral material keeps it from looking like an eye sore and can be expanded for more hanging space as needed.—
Micaela Arnett,
Rolling Stone,
10 Jan. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Drifting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drifting. Accessed 18 Nov. 2025.
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