English dictionary
drift
nounPronunciation
dɹɪft
Audio pronunciation
Parts of speech
Definitions
noun
- a horizontal (or nearly horizontal) passageway in a mine
noun
- the pervading meaning or tenor
noun
- a general tendency to change (as of opinion)
noun
- a large mass of material that is heaped up by the wind or by water currents
noun
- a force that moves something along
noun
- the gradual departure from an intended course due to external influences (as a ship or plane)
noun
- a process of linguistic change over a period of time
verb
- be piled up in banks or heaps by the force of wind or a current
verb
- be subject to fluctuation
verb
- drive slowly and far afield for grazing
verb
- cause to be carried by a current
verb
- move about aimlessly or without any destination, often in search of food or employment
verb
- be in motion due to some air or water current
verb
- move in an unhurried fashion
verb
- wander from a direct course or at random
verb
- live unhurriedly, irresponsibly, or freely
verb
- vary or move from a fixed point or course
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