wafts 1 of 2

plural of waft

wafts

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of waft
as in hovers
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 wafts
Noun
The scent of burning resin wafts through the air, and ambient music follows you around the property, matching the vibe of the day from sunrise to sunset. Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 May 2026 According to British Vogue, Kate arranged for wafts of Orange Blossom candles to fill the air of Westminster Abbey on her big day. Rebecca Norris, InStyle, 11 Apr. 2026 Banana pudding wafts with the green vanilla notes of pandan. Scott Hocker, TheWeek, 24 Mar. 2026 Losing the Great Salt Lake would therefore have dire economic consequences for the region, in addition to health threats as dust laden with heavy metals wafts off the lake bed and into neighborhoods. Evan Bush, NBC news, 7 Mar. 2026 Lemongrass wafts off a dish of lobster two ways. Restaurant Critic, San Francisco Chronicle, 2 Dec. 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 The scent of shorn wood, metal and instant coffee wafts through the air. Joanna Kakissis, NPR, 11 Nov. 2025 October’s crisp weather invites a pot of simmering chili to cook slowly on the stove, filling the kitchen with warmth and wafts of smoke and spice. Lynda Balslev, Mercury News, 24 Oct. 2025
Verb
From the big room beyond, where men are working with chisels and planes, wafts a powerful smell of wood glue. Tim Parks, New Yorker, 11 Apr. 2026 On sunny days, the ocean breeze wafts off the beach and through the loungers and cabanas set just back from the sand. Tim Chester, Robb Report, 5 Mar. 2026 The sugary aroma wafts down Main Street, where artisans continue the century-old tradition of pouring, paddling, and slicing molten fudge into glossy, irresistible bricks. Christine Chitnis, Vogue, 24 Sep. 2025 Yes, everyone’s favorite subject on this very hot New York City day the trash smell wafts up to us. Fortune Editors, Fortune, 6 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wafts
Noun
  • Some fall in love with the cool ocean breezes and relaxed quality of life and find ways to stay in town after graduation.
    Michael Goldstein, Forbes.com, 11 July 2026
  • Sunshine all day, cool breezes at night, board games after homemade feasts.
    Hannah Sampson, Washington Post, 5 July 2026
Verb
  • Screenwriters Jared Bush and Dana Ledoux Miller briskly sketch in the legend that hovers like a stormcloud waiting to descend over life in the lush coconut groves and on the golden beaches.
    David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 8 July 2026
  • As a result, Skywalkers hovers between a sense of constant performance and disarming immediacy — the latter generally during the many vertigo-inducing drone shots of Ivan and Angela’s hair-raising accomplishments.
    Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 1 July 2026
Noun
  • Follow directions on your inhaler for how many puffs to take.
    Alexandra Frost, USA Today, 5 July 2026
  • If the accretion disk puffs up in just the right way, the incoming gas can overwhelm the radiation pressure.
    Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 2 July 2026
Verb
  • But the County Commission has the power to raise taxes, and the Levine Cava memo floats a higher rate for between 8 and 16 years to raise money for both transit construction and operations.
    Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 9 July 2026
  • Next, its 50-pound platter assembly floats on an air-bearing.
    Justin Fenner, Robb Report, 8 July 2026
Verb
  • Victory Cruise Lines, which sails on the Great Lakes, says 2026 bookings are up more than 20 percent for itineraries such as a 10-night trip that sails on all five Great Lakes.
    Jane Wooldridge, Travel + Leisure, 3 July 2026
  • Star of the Seas still sails out of Port Canaveral, housing guests on what is tied for the title of world’s largest cruise ship.
    Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 21 June 2026
Verb
  • Light moves But the show’s action drifts beyond that focal point, up to the main plaza level, especially in its lighting.
    Dewayne Bevil, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 July 2026
  • Elsewhere, the conversation drifts into questions about public-records databases, investigative reporting, grant applications, and the ways institutions classify professional expertise.
    Rhoda Feng, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Wafts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wafts. Accessed 16 Jul. 2026.

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