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
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Recent Examples of drift
Olivia Lloyd, Miami Herald, 21 Mar. 2025
After an extensive search, the wreckage was found the following day on a drifting ice floe.
—CBS News, 20 Mar. 2025
Samantha Mathewson, Space.com, 11 Mar. 2025
After strength training, this drift is less pronounced.
—Alex Hutchinson, Outside Online, 6 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for drift
Verb
The dad managed to get the two younger boys back into the boat as his 12-year-old son was drifting away, according to the sheriff.
—Noun
Earlier observations suggest the iceberg's northward drift slowed suddenly in late February, according to a statement from NASA's Earth Observatory.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for drift
Verb
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Anytime billions flow into an industry, competition ramps up and stock valuations soar.—
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The neoclassical style was still in fashion; flowing dresses with empire waists were de rigueur.—
Verb
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Her chances of winning have hovered around the 80 percent mark since March 17.—
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Trillion-dollar deficits are no longer shocking, and interest expense alone is hovering around record levels.—
Verb
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The banal village tunes that Mahler altered into sinister mock vulgarities—did these not recall the raffish klezmer bands, the wandering musicians who played at shtetl weddings?—
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The vehicle wandered across the road far more than any already ill-handling Defender should, its brakes were weak, and gear shifts were accompanied by a prominent clunk.—
Noun
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In the offseason, the senior right-hander put in extensive work to quiet down his maximum-effort delivery on the mound and become more efficient.—
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Diamondbacks 1, Rockies 0 Wednesday at Salt River Fields On the mound: The Rockies used a bullpen game against the D-backs, with right-hander Jake Woodford getting the start.—
Noun
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Following the action on television and feel the tide is about to turn in the favor of one side?—
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Related article Kennedy downplays immunity from vaccination as measles outbreak grows The challenge for Kennedy is not just responding to this particular outbreak but reversing the tide of vaccine skepticism that has grown, in part, because of his own past activism.—
Noun
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Actress Taylor Dearden partly attributes her character’s sense of calm concentration to her ADHD, a condition Dearden has herself and pushed to give to Dr. Mel, too.—
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The 1960s ushered in debates about the constitutionality of the federal death penalty, due, in part, to a postwar sense of moral superiority.—
Verb
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The gathering crowd was particularly entranced with the weighty, sculptural zipper pulls, which seemed to glide so much better than your standard-issue hardware.—
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Shiffrin glided through the course at Sun Valley with a large crowd cheering her through every gate.—
Verb
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That doesn’t mean the idea may not be floated again, especially if the economy slows significantly and as mid-term elections approach.—
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Some have even floated the possibility of snap elections.—
Cite this Entry
“Drift.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drift. Accessed 8 Apr. 2025.
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