waft 1 of 2

Definition of waftnext

waft

2 of 2

verb

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
Smells of sweet treats like aebleskiver (Danish pancake balls) and gingerbread waft through the air from bakeries like Olsen’s Danish Village Bakery and Mortensen’s Danish Bakery. Cu Fleshman, Travel + Leisure, 14 Nov. 2025 Open the door to the Tumacacori Mesquite Sawmill gallery in the rural, rolling hills of Santa Cruz County, Arizona, an hour south of Tucson, and a soft aroma wafts out. Suzanne Wright, USA Today, 11 Nov. 2025
Verb
Police tape cordoned off the building; a small stream of smoke wafted from the charred roof of the facility. Drake Bentley, jsonline.com, 21 Jan. 2026 The odor of burning garbage wafted from a nearby incineration plant. Jonathan Blitzer, New Yorker, 19 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for waft
Recent Examples of Synonyms for waft
Noun
  • Wednesday is forecast to see stronger wind gusts, with a maximum of 29 miles per hour, before the breezes get gentler.
    Julia James, Dallas Morning News, 4 Feb. 2026
  • Its waterproof material not only stands up to spills and unpredictable weather, but also makes cleanup a breeze.
    Jeaneen Russell, PEOPLE, 4 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • The latest tally marks an eight-week high and comes after a recent stretch where filings, which are considered a proxy for layoff activity, had hovered around two-year lows.
    Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 5 Feb. 2026
  • The service This is where Sofitel shines—attentive, multilingual staff who anticipate your needs without hovering.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • But in Florida democracy, a majority is less than a whiff of a puff of a nonexistent chemtrail.
    Pat Beall, Sun Sentinel, 23 Jan. 2026
  • Customers can expect the brand's beloved scones, cardamom buns, and focaccia on the menu; The San Francisco Standard reports that owner Marisa Williams also plans to start selling guava tarts and apple rhubarb puffs.
    Monica Garske, USA Today, 20 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Breed grew up in Pleasanton and bonded with the ocean when her family sailed around the bay and along the coast.
    James Rainey, Los Angeles Times, 4 Feb. 2026
  • The vessel departed from Miami and was sailing to Honolulu.
    Kelly McGreal, FOXNews.com, 4 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • But in terms of the seismic blockbusters that have dominated the last few trade deadlines, don’t hold your breath.
    John Hollinger, New York Times, 3 Feb. 2026
  • Similarly, the heart rate of a hibernating groundhog slows from about 80 beats per minute to just five, while breathing slows from around 16 breaths per minute to as few as two, according to the National Wildlife Federation.
    Kate Perez, USA Today, 1 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Matte black hearts float across a nude base, framed by glossy, solid black nails.
    Samantha Brash, InStyle, 8 Feb. 2026
  • The design of Jane and Bob's house was of that era, intended to feel weightless, floating above and looking over.
    CBS News, CBS News, 8 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Word of specific cuts drifted out during the day, as when Cairo Bureau Chief Claire Parker announced on X that she had been laid off, along with all of the newspaper’s Middle East correspondents and editors.
    David Bauder, Fortune, 4 Feb. 2026
  • This petite, chic travel jewelry case keeps necklaces untangled, prevents rings from drifting to the bottom of her carry-on, and secures earring posts from bending or breaking.
    Annie Blackman, InStyle, 4 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Last week, a 13-year-old boy swam for hours to shore to get help for his mother and siblings after the family was swept out to sea.
    Maureen O'Hare, CNN Money, 7 Feb. 2026
  • Never try to swim against a rip current!
    Carlos E. Castañeda, CBS News, 7 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Waft.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/waft. Accessed 12 Feb. 2026.

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