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
Jeff McDonald,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
1 July 2026
People often watch them with comments from other viewers drifting across their screens.
—
Lavender Au,
The Dial,
30 June 2026
Andy Wilcox,
Better Homes & Gardens,
27 June 2026
The scent of fresh sourdough drifts from one room as the aroma of Korean soul food fill the air in another.
—
Jeff Gritchen,
Oc Register,
25 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for drift
Verb
Davis drifted away from professional musicianship, in part to focus on her education, but the couple continued playing commercially with The Luxembourg Signal for many years.
—
Jeff McDonald,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
1 July 2026
People often watch them with comments from other viewers drifting across their screens.
—
Lavender Au,
The Dial,
30 June 2026
Noun
Inspect for pests, provide adequate sunlight, and protect plants from extreme temperatures or herbicide drift.
—
Andy Wilcox,
Better Homes & Gardens,
27 June 2026
The scent of fresh sourdough drifts from one room as the aroma of Korean soul food fill the air in another.
—
Jeff Gritchen,
Oc Register,
25 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for drift
Recent Examples of Synonyms for drift
Verb
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Although maritime traffic has been able to flow through the channel, the future of the Strait of Hormuz remains in flux.
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Shares are up 43% in the year to date as more money has flowed into regional gaming.
Verb
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The Oranje are leading possession and for the most part have been hovering perilously close to Tunisia’s net.
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Euclid, which is hovering 930,0000 miles from Earth, captured the image with its visible light camera over 26 hours in March 2025.
Verb
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Throughout the weekend, someone wandering around Mass MoCA’s campus might have caught excellent mainstage opening acts like Gang of Four (featuring Ted Leo on guitar) or the Breeders, representing two strains of Eighties and Nineties alt/punk rock.
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Most ticks are content to sit and wait for a meal to wander past; lone stars have no patience for that.
Noun
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Video from Driscol Rojas, who describes himself as a filmmaker, shows mounds of rubble in Caraballeda.
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But Ohtani has been just as impressive on the mound this year.
Noun
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Thinning Russian air defense stockpiles and Ukraine's ever-increasing drone production have helped Kyiv seize new momentum this year, with analysts and some regional leaders seeing the tide slowly turn away from Russia's favor.
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Trump said the Democratic Party’s leadership was afraid of speaking out against the rising tide of socialism because of looming primary challenges.
Noun
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Against that backdrop, some say the ships are offering a surprising sense of connection.
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Since relocating to Los Angeles, Gonzalez’s small downtown team has scaled Happy Organics into a design-forward brand carried by major retailers, anchored in local maker communities and a sense of purpose.
Verb
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Between capitals, the ship glides through Austria’s wine country, with family winery visits and Melk Abbey structuring the scenic stretches.
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The particles glided past each other effortlessly.
Verb
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The usual carousel of famous people making the podcast rounds — Kamala Harris on Call Her Daddy, Tyrese on Joe Budden, the endless stream of tiny heads floating in front of screenshots of articles — is interrupted by something startlingly familiar.
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The nucleus disassembles, letting these crucial genetic instructions float free in the cell’s soupy interior.
Cite this Entry
“Drift.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drift. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.
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