waft 1 of 2

noun

Definition of waftnext
as in breeze
a slight or gentle movement of air wafts carrying the scent of spring flowers

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

waft

2 of 2

verb

ˈwäft How to pronounce waft (audio)
as in to hover
to rest or move along the surface of a liquid or in the air a feather wafted past us and settled on the grass

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of waft
Noun
Spritz it in the morning and prepare for subtle, spa-like wafts of forest floor throughout the day. — Jenny Berg, Vogue, 4 Aug. 2026 Nearby, the scents of carne asada and carnitas waft out of taquerias, inviting those nearby to stop in for a meal. — Luis Melecio-Zambrano, Mercury News, 31 July 2026
Verb
Clear blue skies are hovering over the Pharmalot campus, where a cool breeze is wafting by and the official mascots are bounding about the grounds in search of critters. — Ed Silverman, STAT, 30 Sep. 2026 Hall has many fond memories of working with founder Yves Saint Laurent, not least as the inaugural face of the brand’s Opium scent, which wafted across the set. — Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 30 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for waft
Recent Examples of Synonyms for waft
  1. breeze
  2. hover
  3. puff
  4. sail
  5. breath
  6. float
  7. drift
  8. swim
Noun
  • Our sunny afternoon lunch featured fresh seafood and bright, flavorful pasta, paired with a crisp white wine from the hotel’s winery and a late-summer breeze shaking the trees overhead.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 13 Oct. 2026
  • The breeze will start to build in, and high temperatures will rise into the mid- to upper 80s on Saturday and Sunday.
    — Lissette Gonzalez, CBS News, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of breeze
Verb
  • At the time of their call, temperatures hovered around 15 degrees, and the pair lacked adequate clothing, food or water to safely endure the night, according to the sheriff’s office.
    — Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026
  • But when Alexander saw the green machine, the tree excavator, feet away from the 100-year-old oak tree that hovers over the corner of Salem Drive and Idlewood Circle, that was not fine.
    — Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of hover
Noun
  • The padding is generally offered in three weights to suit a range of designs from ultra-light jackets to high puff parkas.
    — Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Then a judge had to order the state to rewrite its puff-piece ballot description into something that says what the amendment will actually do.
    — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of puff
Verb
  • Launched last year, Louis Vuitton’s multiyear partnership with Real Madrid marked yet another high-profile sports deal for the world’s biggest luxury brand, which is active in disciplines ranging from sailing to Formula 1.
    — Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Henderson picked it up and sailed a throw to first, allowing the tying run to score.
    — Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of sail
Noun
  • At various town hall events, Sand has cited biblical passages that can be interpreted as saying that life begins at breath instead of conception.
    — Gabrielle M. Etzel, The Washington Examiner, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Rooms The sheer architectural ingenuity and stature of the main building will take your breath away.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of breath
Verb
  • That was something for everyone else; for those who were not named after the bag and who were not lucky enough to float through life in the way that Birkin appeared to.
    — Marisa Meltzer, Vanity Fair, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Together with changes that allowed the naira currency to float freely by market forces, Tinubu’s subsidy removal helped to improve Nigeria’s fiscal stability and strengthen reserves.
    — Alexander Onukwue, semafor.com, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of float
Verb
  • The autumn sun is drifting southward and the angle of shadows is shifting.
    — Dana Kelley, Arkansas Online, 16 Oct. 2026
  • His attention drifts towards intimate details – the bare armpit, the small hollow at the base of Rafael’s neck – and the music follows him into this increasingly private, almost obsessive fascination.
    — Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of drift
Verb
  • It’s estimated about 25% of the sunscreen people apply to their skin washes off while swimming or wading in the ocean.
    — Matthew Perrone, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Other marine mammals, such as harbor seals, have also been known to swim into the Delta.
    — Anne Ewbank, Sacbee.com, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of swim

Browse Nearby Words

waffling
waft
wafted
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Cite this Entry

“Waft.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/waft. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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