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drift

noun verb

a horizontal (or nearly horizontal) passageway in a mine

Quick reference

Word Facts

Word length
5
Starts with
D
Ends with
T
Contains
RI
Scrabble score
9
Database source
OEWN 2025 Core

How it sounds

Pronunciation

dɹɪft

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Audio Pronunciation

Audio pronunciation is unavailable for this word.

Meaning

Definitions

noun

  1. a horizontal (or nearly horizontal) passageway in a mine

    “they dug a drift parallel with the vein”

noun

  1. the pervading meaning or tenor

    “caught the general drift of the conversation”

noun

  1. a general tendency to change (as of opinion)

    “not openly liberal but that is the trend of the book”

noun

  1. a large mass of material that is heaped up by the wind or by water currents

noun

  1. a force that moves something along

noun

  1. the gradual departure from an intended course due to external influences (as a ship or plane)

noun

  1. a process of linguistic change over a period of time

verb

  1. be piled up in banks or heaps by the force of wind or a current

    “snow drifting several feet high”

verb

  1. be subject to fluctuation

    “The stock market drifted upward”

verb

  1. drive slowly and far afield for grazing

    “drift the cattle herds westwards”

verb

  1. cause to be carried by a current

    “drift the boats downstream”

verb

  1. move about aimlessly or without any destination, often in search of food or employment

    “The gypsies roamed the woods”

verb

  1. be in motion due to some air or water current

    “The leaves were blowing in the wind”

verb

  1. move in an unhurried fashion

    “The unknown young man drifted among the invited guests”

verb

  1. wander from a direct course or at random

    “The child strayed from the path and her parents lost sight of her”

verb

  1. live unhurriedly, irresponsibly, or freely

    “My son drifted around for years in California before going to law school”

verb

  1. vary or move from a fixed point or course

    “stock prices are drifting higher”

In context

Example Sentences

they dug a drift parallel with the vein
caught the general drift of the conversation
not openly liberal but that is the trend of the book
a broad movement of the electorate to the right
snow drifting several feet high
sand drifting like snow
The stock market drifted upward
drift the cattle herds westwards
drift the boats downstream
The gypsies roamed the woods
roving vagabonds
the wandering Jew
The cattle roam across the prairie
the laborers drift from one town to the next
The leaves were blowing in the wind
the boat drifted on the lake
The sailboat was adrift on the open sea
the shipwrecked boat drifted away from the shore
The unknown young man drifted among the invited guests
The child strayed from the path and her parents lost sight of her
don't drift from the set course
My son drifted around for years in California before going to law school
stock prices are drifting higher

Similar words

Synonyms

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