drift

drɪft

drift

/drɪft/

Definition & Meaning of "drift"in English

to drift

VERB

to slowly move in the air or on water

Intransitive

Examples

As the autumn leaves fell from the trees, they would drift with the gentle breeze.

In the serene lake, the small boat would drift peacefully with the current.

to move with a relaxed pace, without a specific purpose or direction

Intransitive

Examples

After the picnic, they decided to drift along the beach.

In the city park, people would often drift through the tree-lined pathways.

to veer off or deviate from an intended path, course, or set parameters

Intransitive

Examples

As the discussion continued, the conversation would often drift away from the main topic.

The financial markets can be unpredictable, causing stock prices to drift from the anticipated values.

to accumulate or be piled into heaps due to the action of the wind or a current

Intransitive

Examples

After the blizzard, the snow began to drift against the buildings.

In the autumn wind, leaves would drift into piles at the edges of the streets.

to guide or lead livestock at a slow pace, typically to allow them to graze

Transitive: to drift livestock somewhere

Examples

The rancher would drift the cattle along the open range, allowing them to graze freely.

The cowboys would drift the herd across the plains, ensuring they had access to fresh grass.

to cause an object or substance to be carried along by the natural movement of air, water, or another current

Transitive: to drift sth somewhere

Examples

The strong currents in the river drifted the logs downstream, creating a potential hazard for navigation.

Ocean currents can drift debris far from its original location.

to move through life or a period of time without a clear direction or purpose

Intransitive

Examples

After graduating, he drifted for a year, unsure of what to do.

After losing his job, he just drifted, taking each day as it came.

to move between situations or roles without a specific plan or goal, often without long-term commitment

Intransitive: to drift between two or more situations or roles | to drift into a situation or role

Examples

She drifted into management after years of working in different departments.

After college, she drifted between internships before finding a permanent job.

Drift

NOUN

a force that causes movement of an object

Examples

The drift of the current carried the boat away.

Snow accumulated in a drift along the roadside.

the gradual deviation from an intended path due to external influences

Examples

The plane experienced a drift off course in strong winds.

The ship 's drift was corrected by the captain.

a nearly horizontal tunnel or passage in a mine

Examples

Miners worked in the drift to extract ore.

The drift extended for several hundred meters underground.

the general meaning, intention, or tenor of a statement or text

Examples

I understood the drift of his argument.

The letter 's drift was critical but polite.

a general tendency or gradual change in opinion, attitude, or behavior

Examples

There was a drift toward more progressive policies.

The drift of public opinion surprised the officials.

a large accumulation of material formed by wind or water

Examples

Snow drifts blocked the road.

The glacier left a drift of rocks behind.

a process of gradual linguistic change over time

Examples

The language shows a drift toward simplification.

Semantic drift can alter word meanings.

Lexical Tree

drifter

drifting

drift

Nearby Words

Definition & Meaning of "drift"in English

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