to drift

Examples

• All

• And without purpose, I'm just drifting like a river...

  Thunderbolts* (2025)

• "Poor and homeless, they hopped from train to train and drifted from town to town.

  Academic text (2011)

• Nah, I drift through, I drift through life without structure.

  Lex Fridman

• And if you feel yourself drift, just gently come back.

• I just saw three dark cars just sort of drift by the door just for the little slot.

  Dodge Woodall

• Drift through the days full of nothing but peace and quiet.

  Lost Horizon (1973)

• Just before I reached my room, music drifted down to me from the top floor.

  Fiction book (1990)

• Gibson said he had drifted from job to job, working construction and cooking in restaurants.

  Academic text (2011)

• You know, dear, we're drifting apart, you and I... and I don't like it.

  Sweet Smell of Success (1957)

• The bishops lament that the unemployment rate has generally drifted upward since World War II.

  Academic text (1990)

Synonyms

M

to move

vsto drift

∞ 1.0

Change position or place

is specifically slow passive carrying or aimless movement rather than any motion

F

to float

vsto drift

645 1.0

To stay or move on water without sinking, sometimes in the air

is also used for aimless or slow movement of things or thoughts

W

to wander

vsto drift

379 1.3

Move around without a fixed direction, often slowly and in curves

includes slow carrying by currents rather than only walking

R

to roam

vsto drift

189 2.5

Move around without a fixed place, often while looking for something

is broader, also meaning slow passive carrying by current

R

to roll

vsto drift

100 2.0

To move from place to place without a fixed home or plan

is more about being pushed slowly by currents rather than roaming for work

S

to stray

vsto drift

70 2.8

To move away from the correct place or path and wander

often implies leaving a place rather than being carried slowly by currents

R

to range

vsto drift

25 3.3

To move or travel freely over an area

is narrower stressing slow passive carrying rather than wide movement

R

to rove

vsto drift

22 6.4

To travel around without a fixed plan, often looking for something

is more passive, often caused by currents rather than active seeking

F

to float away

vsto drift

15 3.2

Move slowly through the air or water until out of sight

is broader, including slow carrying without disappearing

R

to ramble

vsto drift

14 4.4

To walk for pleasure without a fixed route

is more passive and can describe slow carrying by water or air

B

to be adrift

vsto drift

6 6.3

To be carried along by water or wind without control

is similar but also means slow aimless movement of people or thoughts

S

to swan

vsto drift

• Informal

3 7.9

To move around in a relaxed, aimless way without a fixed plan

is more often passive, carried by air or water rather than leisure walking

R

to run adrift

vsto drift

7.5

To float without control and with no clear direction, as a boat or a group's plans

is broader, applying to slow carrying and aimless thought movement

Antonyms

N

to navigate

148 3.6

Find a safe way through a place or difficult situation

S

to stay put

• Informal

133 2.0

Remain in the same place without moving

Phrasal Verbs

D

to drift off

23 3.8

To slowly fall asleep without meaning to

D

to drift apart

17 3.7

To become less close to each other over time

D

to drift away

15 4.5

To slowly lose contact and closeness with someone

G

to get the drift

• Informal

4 4.5

To understand the main idea without knowing every detail

Compounds

C

continental drift

• Specialized

4 4.8

The slow movement of Earth's continents over a very long time

D

drift net

• Specialized

3 5.1

A large fishing net that floats and moves with the water to catch fish

D

drift ice

• UK

6.0

Large pieces of ice that float on the open sea

How Directed

to steer

224 1.6

to proceed

763 3.0

to meander

27 5.3

to drift

331 2.9

to wander

379 1.3

Surface Forms

Etymology