Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
to waft through the air

to waft through the air

1 4.8
Move gently through the air like a smell or sound
  • phrasal verb
  • /wɑːft θruː ði ɛr/
translation icon : flotar en el aire
  • "I'd been fighting with Tony a few hours before I went into labor and he..." She glanced away, and Spike held himself completely still as the scent of fear wafted through the air.
  • scent of cider wafts through the air
  • smell of patchouli wafts through the air

Examples

  • The soft fragrance of blooming flowers wafted through the air on a warm spring day.

  • When he would stop playing, her clear voice could again be heard as it wafted through the air.

    Fiction book (1994)

  • All heads turned as the first cries for help wafted through the air.

    Fiction book (1994)

  • Nervous guards patrol as the sounds of the prisoners singing waft through the air.

    Fiction book (1992)

  • Tiffletae fluff wafted through the air like a reminder of snow.

    Fiction book (1999)

  • The sweet aroma of freshly baked bread wafted through the air, making everyone hungry.

  • As the concert started, the sound of music wafted through the air, filling the park with energy.

Synonyms

to waft
vsto waft through the air
28 5.1

To move gently through the air on a light breeze, like a smell or sound

is the same meaning but expressed as a phrase instead of the single verb
to whiff
vsto waft through the air
6.9

To move something quickly by a short gust of air

is lighter and smoother, not driven by a sudden puff

Antonyms

to fall
∞ 1.0

Move or drop down from a higher to a lower place

to plummet
93 5.8

Fall suddenly and steeply from a high place or in amount

How Gently

to glide
89 2.9
to waft through the air
1 4.8
to float
645 1.0
to drift
331 2.9
to blow
711 1.0

Surface Forms

waft through the air infinitive

Morphology

waft + through + the + air

The meaning 'to move lightly and smoothly through the air' is directly and transparently derived from 'waft' (to be carried lightly by a breeze) combined with the locative phrase 'through the air' — the constituents literally describe the movement. This verb + prepositional phrase composition is straightforward and cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows the individual words will readily infer the MWE meaning.

Etymology

Waft through the air gives a clear picture: imagine the smell of fresh bread or flowers lightly floating on a gentle breeze, with waft meaning a soft motion and through the air showing where it moves. That's why it means 'to move lightly and smoothly through the air', often used for scents, soft sounds, or light things.