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
Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times, 29 June 2025
Detective Hwang Jun-ho’s (Wi Ha-jun) procedural-like quest to follow Gi-hun back to the island, in hopes of shutting down the abhorrent competition and confronting his brother the Front Man, dominated the first two episodes; once the games began, Jun-ho and his crew mostly drifted around, lost.
—Judy Berman, Time, 27 June 2025
Lewis Gordon, Vulture, 9 July 2025
Ten people died as a result of the conditions, which buried streets in snow drifts, closed schools and delayed milk delivery.
—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 7 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for drift
Verb
The Mandalay fire caused heavy, drifting smoke, which prompted 911 calls from concerned residents, the Riverside Fire Department said on Facebook.
—Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times, 29 June 2025
Detective Hwang Jun-ho’s (Wi Ha-jun) procedural-like quest to follow Gi-hun back to the island, in hopes of shutting down the abhorrent competition and confronting his brother the Front Man, dominated the first two episodes; once the games began, Jun-ho and his crew mostly drifted around, lost.
—Judy Berman, Time, 27 June 2025
Noun
On the other hand, these rugged wildernesses, situated in the U.S., Norway, Spain, and more, really are something else: Foliage sways in the wind; pollen motes drift through the air; dappled light shimmers beneath trees.
—Lewis Gordon, Vulture, 9 July 2025
Ten people died as a result of the conditions, which buried streets in snow drifts, closed schools and delayed milk delivery.
—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 7 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for drift
Recent Examples of Synonyms for drift
Verb
-
The death toll has rose to over 120 people killed since heavy rainfall overwhelmed the Guadalupe River and flowed through homes and summer camps in the early morning hours of July 4.—
Jay Stahl,
USA Today,
12 July 2025
-
Both the Sai and the Kok rivers flow into the Mekong, as does the Ruak, where unsafe levels of arsenic have also been found.—
Michael Sullivan,
NPR,
12 July 2025
Verb
-
Gas prices are hovering near their lowest summer level in four years as millions of people ready themselves to hit the roads over the Fourth of July holiday weekend.—
Max Zahn,
ABC News,
3 July 2025
-
When the first pitch of the Texas baseball team's home opener is thrown around 1 p.m. on Friday, temperatures in the Austin area will be hovering around 35 degrees.—
Danny Davis,
Austin American Statesman,
2 July 2025
Verb
-
Read a book, breathe deeply or just let your mind wander.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
5 July 2025
-
The shelter added that Captain ended up at Bentonville after a woman found the dog wandering near a road while traveling in Missouri.—
Moná Thomas,
People.com,
5 July 2025
Noun
-
Things get even tighter when a left-hander is on the mound.—
Mac Cerullo,
Boston Herald,
10 July 2025
-
Still, Montgomery left Hendricks on the mound, and Smith hit a hard ground ball through the middle, driving in a run.—
Jeff Fletcher,
Oc Register,
10 July 2025
Noun
-
This may be the last, best window for pro-innovation crypto rules before a future political realignment shifts the tides.—
Jason Brett,
Forbes.com,
11 July 2025
-
Now that viewers have had a chance to see Hyun-ju’s two-season arc, the tide has turned around his casting.—
Jackie Strause,
HollywoodReporter,
8 July 2025
Noun
-
Among the mind-body benefits are better flexibility, more core engagement, total body strengthening, and a sense of empowerment.—
Amy Wilkinson,
SELF,
1 July 2025
-
Though on the surface the blazing, barking vocals and triple-time speed of the track are seemingly at odds with the Foos’ typical mix of pop hooks and radio-friendly rock, the cover makes perfect sense given Grohl’s punk rock pedigree.—
Gil Kaufman,
Billboard,
1 July 2025
Verb
-
Sci-fi speedboats gliding above the water, backed by a rotating cast of celebrities.—
Kanzah Maktoum,
Forbes.com,
7 July 2025
-
But Ontario International Airport came in at No. 15, Hollywood Burbank Airport is at 14, John Wayne Airport landed at No. 12, and Long Beach Airport glided in at No. 2.—
Jim Radcliffe,
Oc Register,
27 June 2025
Verb
-
The knife seemed to have jumped out of the drawer and was floating towards me.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 July 2025
-
Use floating row covers over seedlings and susceptible crops such as eggplants, which can be decimated by flea beetles.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
11 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Drift.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drift. Accessed 16 Jul. 2025.
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