drift

Study(41)

/dɹɪft/

noun 5verb 5

Collocations

(noun.) slow movement towards sth

ADJ

gradual, slow

PREP

~ (away) from

Many young people have drifted away from traditional careers toward technology jobs.

~ (back) to

After the vacation, the students slowly drifted back to their normal study routines.

~ into

She gradually drifted into a career in teaching after volunteering at the local school.

~ towards

(noun.) general meaning of sth

ADJ

general, main

VERB + DRIFT

catch, follow, get

I didn't understand every word, but I got the drift of the conversation.

lose

I couldn't follow the conversation and lost the drift of their discussion halfway through.

(noun.) pile of snow/sand made by the wind

ADJ

deep, great | sand, snow (also snowdrift)

(verb.) be carried along by the wind/water

ADV

slowly

helplessly

The boat drifted helplessly across the dark water after the engine broke down.

downriver, downstream, downwind

The leaf drifted downriver until it caught on some rocks near the bridge.

along, back, down, out

PREP

from, to, towards, etc.

The boat slowly drifted towards the shore as the tide came in.

(verb.) move slowly/without purpose

ADV

aimlessly | slowly | quietly, silently

about, around/round, apart, away, back, down, off, up

The old photographs slowly drifted apart as she opened the yellowed envelope.

VERB + DRIFT

begin to | seem to

allow sth to

She allowed the conversation to drift away from the uncomfortable topic.

PREP

about/around/round

She drifted around the shopping mall for hours without buying anything.

across

The boat drifted across the calm lake while we watched the sunset together.

between

After the argument, he found himself drifting between anger and sadness for days.

from

The old wooden boat drifted from the harbor during the storm last night.

in, into

She gradually drifted into a career in marketing without having a clear plan from the start.

out of

The old boat drifted out of sight as the fog rolled across the harbor.

Definitions

noun

Movement; that which moves or is moved.

Some log perhaps upon the waters swam, a useless drift.

Movement; that which moves or is moved.

a drift of snow, of ice, of sand, of plants, etc.

Drifts of rising dust involve the sky.

Movement; that which moves or is moved.

cattle coming over the bridge (with their great drifts doing much damage to the high ways)

Movement; that which moves or is moved.

It is there seen that at a distance from the valleys of streams, the old glacial drift usually comes to the surface, and often rises into considerable eminences.

verb

To move slowly, especially pushed by currents of water, air, etc.

The boat drifted away from the shore.

The balloon was drifting in the breeze.

To move haphazardly without any destination.

He drifted from town to town, never settling down.

To deviate gently from the intended direction of travel.

This car tends to drift left at high speeds.

Midway through the half, Argentine Tevez did begin to drift inside in order to exert his influence but by this stage Mick McCarthy's side had gone 1-0 up and looked comfortable.

To drive or carry, as currents do a floating body.

1865-1866, John Henry Newman, Apologia Pro Vita Sua I was drifted back first to the ante - Nicene history , and then to the Church of Alexandria

To drive into heaps.

A current of wind drifts snow or sand

Thesaurus

Synonyms

noun — a horizontal (or nearly horizontal) passageway in a mine

noun — the pervading meaning or tenor

purport

noun — a general tendency to change (as of opinion)

noun — a force that moves something along

verb — move about aimlessly or without any destination, often in se

verb — be in motion due to some air or water current

verb — wander from a direct course or at random

verb — live unhurriedly, irresponsibly, or freely

freewheel

Antonyms

Idioms & Phrases

get the drift

To understand, at least on some basic or general level.

I don't really read French, but I can often guess enough to get the drift.

drift off

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see drift, off.

drift apart

To lose contact, to lose one's friendship or closeness.

We used to be good friends but we drifted apart over the years.

catch someone's drift

To understand the meaning or implications of someone’s pronouncement.

I see you catch my drift.

Example Bank

Some log perhaps upon the waters swam, a useless drift.

Wiktionary

a drift of snow, of ice, of sand, of plants, etc.

Wiktionary

Drifts of rising dust involve the sky.

Wiktionary

The boat drifted away from the shore.

Wiktionary

The balloon was drifting in the breeze.

Wiktionary

One day I was out in the barn and he drifted in. I was currying the horse and he set down on the wheelbarrow and begun to ask questions.

Wiktionary

Usage Notes

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