1
as in flows
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 hovers
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 wanders
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 tides
a prevailing or general movement or inclination
the steady drift of the population away from large cities
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in senses
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 drifts
Seth Wickersham, The Atlantic, 8 Sep. 2025
Modern systems analyze patterns of active work, idle stretches and meeting length in real time, giving leaders a live feed of how productivity drifts through a day.
—Kolawole Samuel Adebayo, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
The smell of 50k pumpkin donuts drifts down the street.
—Katherine Laidlaw, HubSpot, 5 Sep. 2025
The former Chelsea and Aston Villa winger offers Sunderland something slightly different in terms of being a left-footed player who drifts in from the right.
—Tim Spiers, New York Times, 2 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
The cost of parties, marketing, shipping, insurance, and the decorous administration of nearly five hundred sales a year only ever drifts one way.
—Sam Knight, New Yorker, 25 Aug. 2025
And that drifts into the mental part.
—Jeff Vorva, Chicago Tribune, 21 Aug. 2025
But what happens if that multiple drifts downward to, say, a still elevated 25 over the next half-decade?
—Shawn Tully, Fortune, 16 Aug. 2025
Joseph Freed, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
The drifts of powder, scattered by her haste, gather in the runnels of the tabletop.
—Literary Hub, 28 Aug. 2025
Snowdrops readily naturalize and are best planted in drifts along woodland edges or under large trees.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 24 Aug. 2025
Spanish drifts along the rows, a joke here, a warning there, carried in the heavy air.
—Dean Florez, Mercury News, 19 Aug. 2025
Thanks to a prescient investment in producing a promotional video for the CTR model, the world would become acquainted with Ruf through scenes of gratuitous smokey drifts on the Nurburgring, captured from a helicopter no less.
—Christian Gilbertsen, Robb Report, 12 Aug. 2025
The hazy skies and smoky smell is back — a now-annual sign of summer — as Canadian wildfire smoke drifts into our region.
—Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 5 Aug. 2025
Verb
But, as always, the talk drifts toward quarterbacks, that uniquely American job with uniquely American responsibilities.
—Seth Wickersham, The Atlantic, 8 Sep. 2025
Modern systems analyze patterns of active work, idle stretches and meeting length in real time, giving leaders a live feed of how productivity drifts through a day.
—Kolawole Samuel Adebayo, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
The smell of 50k pumpkin donuts drifts down the street.
—Katherine Laidlaw, HubSpot, 5 Sep. 2025
The former Chelsea and Aston Villa winger offers Sunderland something slightly different in terms of being a left-footed player who drifts in from the right.
—Tim Spiers, New York Times, 2 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
The cost of parties, marketing, shipping, insurance, and the decorous administration of nearly five hundred sales a year only ever drifts one way.
—Sam Knight, New Yorker, 25 Aug. 2025
And that drifts into the mental part.
—Jeff Vorva, Chicago Tribune, 21 Aug. 2025
But what happens if that multiple drifts downward to, say, a still elevated 25 over the next half-decade?
—Shawn Tully, Fortune, 16 Aug. 2025
Noun
No one is checking whether these tools actually help people get better at their jobs or if the natural conversation with the AI drifts outside of its expertise.
—Joseph Freed, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
The drifts of powder, scattered by her haste, gather in the runnels of the tabletop.
—Literary Hub, 28 Aug. 2025
Snowdrops readily naturalize and are best planted in drifts along woodland edges or under large trees.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 24 Aug. 2025
Spanish drifts along the rows, a joke here, a warning there, carried in the heavy air.
—Dean Florez, Mercury News, 19 Aug. 2025
Thanks to a prescient investment in producing a promotional video for the CTR model, the world would become acquainted with Ruf through scenes of gratuitous smokey drifts on the Nurburgring, captured from a helicopter no less.
—Christian Gilbertsen, Robb Report, 12 Aug. 2025
The hazy skies and smoky smell is back — a now-annual sign of summer — as Canadian wildfire smoke drifts into our region.
—Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 5 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for drifts
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
-
The water condenses on the glass and flows down a tube to emerge as fresh, drinkable water.—
Laura Paddison,
CNN Money,
6 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The homicide clearance rate is extraordinary for a city that hovers around 1 million residents.—
Robert Salonga,
Mercury News,
30 Aug. 2025
-
Tuition for in-state students hovers at $7,000, while out-of-state tuition is just under $20,000.—
Francesca Walton,
Forbes.com,
26 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
If the canine wanders around, night lights can reduce their confusion in the dark, and keeping them in a small room that is difficult to get lost in may also help.—
Alyce Collins,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 Aug. 2025
-
Breathe, notice and return to the moment each time the mind wanders.—
Aslak de Silva,
Forbes.com,
8 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
There are mounds of commentary on Marlowe—historical, biographical, critical, and wildly fantastical—and all sorts of reasons to add to the heap.—
Anthony Lane,
New Yorker,
8 Sep. 2025
-
Summer's berry bounties and mounds of melons are fleeting.—
Kimberly Holland,
Southern Living,
31 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Thanks to this description of the relationships between these elements, Newton was able to explain a number of phenomena, such as the shape of the planets’ orbits, how the Moon causes the Earth’s tides, and why comets appear and disappear from the sky.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
9 Sep. 2025
-
Usually, there’s one day where tides are the highest, and tides slowly build up — and then back down — from that peak.—
Alex Harris,
Miami Herald,
9 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
But the fourth, a par three, awakens the senses with sweeping sea views, the smell of salt air, and the promise of what’s to come.—
Tim Corlett,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
-
Games are fast-paced, with nonstop activity bombarding the senses and showmanship emphasized as much as — or more than — athleticism.—
Kirk Kenney,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Akerman turns the youths’ judgmental sociology into a romantic rhapsody with a shot that glides forward, from a wide view of Michèle and Paul submerged in a crowd to a tight double closeup of the two kissing.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Curie’s clean deodorant nourishes and protects the skin with a moisturizing, non-greasy formula that glides on smoothly without residue or irritation.—
Kristen Philipkoski,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Guests are encouraged to live fully in the space, where morning coffee brews in a Hay French press, poolside afternoons are spent on Oliver James floats, and alfresco dinners happen amid DWR’s Terassi outdoor teak furniture (all of which, naturally, is for sale).—
John Wogan,
Robb Report,
6 Sep. 2025
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Afterward, retreat to the spa’s relaxation lounge—where a glowing copper teardrop floats above cedar banquettes—while next door, the subterranean fitness center boasts Technogym gear and treadmills—all below the waterline.—
Lewis Nunn,
Forbes.com,
6 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Drifts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drifts. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.
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