1
as in to flow
to move or proceed smoothly and readily
casual conversation drifting from one topic to another
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to hover
to rest or move along the surface of a liquid or in the air
the boat drifted along on the current
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to wander
to move about from place to place aimlessly
spent several years drifting from town to town, picking up odd jobs whenever he needed cash
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
2
as in tide
a prevailing or general movement or inclination
the steady drift of the population away from large cities
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in sense
the idea that is conveyed or intended to be conveyed to the mind by language, symbol, or action
you should expect a visit from the stork, if you get my drift
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of drift
Doc Louallen, ABC News, 3 June 2025
Jeff hears music drifting in from other apartments, including the piano from the songwriter’s apartment and songs by Nat King Cole, Dean Martin and Leonard Bernstein.
—Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 2 June 2025
Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 23 May 2025
On our question on managing configuration drift, these mechanisms enable IT teams to proactively prevent unexpected patch deviations and establish a unified set of practices for application developers and IT operations.
—Adrian Bridgwater, Forbes.com, 21 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for drift
Verb
Witnesses reported hearing loud cracking sounds as the mooring lines began snapping one by one, causing the ship's stern to drift away from the dock.
—Doc Louallen, ABC News, 3 June 2025
Jeff hears music drifting in from other apartments, including the piano from the songwriter’s apartment and songs by Nat King Cole, Dean Martin and Leonard Bernstein.
—Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 2 June 2025
Noun
If the age of eligibility for full Social Security benefits rose from 67 to, say, 70, America’s average retirement age would probably resume its upward drift, Munnell said.
—Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 23 May 2025
On our question on managing configuration drift, these mechanisms enable IT teams to proactively prevent unexpected patch deviations and establish a unified set of practices for application developers and IT operations.
—Adrian Bridgwater, Forbes.com, 21 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for drift
Recent Examples of Synonyms for drift
Verb
-
The real threat to the fiscal well-being of the median American comes from the price of energy, from which all other prices flow.—
Josh Hammer,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 June 2025
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Salivary Blockages Blockages or obstructions to the salivary glands may also cause mouth dryness because saliva doesn't flow as easily to the mouth.10 7.—
Lana Barhum,
Verywell Health,
6 June 2025
Verb
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Police helicopters hovered as marchers wove between vehicles.—
Caroline Kubzansky,
Chicago Tribune,
11 June 2025
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There’s also more heightened genre elements, including explosions, gun fights and a mysterious corporate private plane hovering over the desert.—
Lauren Coates,
Variety,
10 June 2025
Verb
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Then of course, there’s wandering through some of the region’s rich history.—
Tom Hyland,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2025
-
July is your season to wander off the map and breathe easier.—
Allison Palmer,
Charlotte Observer,
11 June 2025
Noun
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If all turns out well, Kirby is scheduled to be back on the mound on Sunday, June 8 against the Los Angeles Angels.—
Sean Neumann,
People.com,
4 June 2025
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The rule, adopted before the 2020 season but not implemented until this year due to the upheavals caused by the coronavirus pandemic, states that a team cannot use a position player on the mound unless there is a difference of six or more runs between the two teams.—
Houston Mitchell,
Los Angeles Times,
4 June 2025
Noun
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Espinosa, who only assumed leadership of the Japanese automaker in April, faces an uphill battle to change the tide of Nissan's whittled down fortunes.—
Ruxandra Iordache,Sam Meredith,
CNBC,
4 June 2025
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But now, the sight of American airplanes over Manila signaled a shift in the tide of war.—
Jeff Langholz,
Sun Sentinel,
25 May 2025
Noun
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Drawing inspiration from seaside villas, the light and airy rooms evoke a sense of calm that draws the eye to the panoramic-view windows and terraces.—
Monica Mendal,
Vogue,
8 June 2025
-
There’s no sense of me and you, us and them, mine and yours.—
Chris Gardner,
HollywoodReporter,
8 June 2025
Verb
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HGVs are launched by rockets and glide toward targets, while HCMs use air-breathing engines to maintain hypersonic speeds.—
Garth Friesen,
Forbes.com,
9 June 2025
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As of now, incumbent Mayor Karen Bass is the only serious candidate in the race, meaning the first-term mayor could glide to reelection.—
Julia Wick,
Los Angeles Times,
7 June 2025
Verb
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Bongino updated Fox News host Sean Hannity on the investigation into the Epstein file as conspiracies continue to float that he was murdered in prison.—
Greg Wehner,
FOXNews.com,
5 June 2025
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The smell of fresh doughnuts, floating like gorgeous golden life preservers in the shimmering fat of the fryer, hits you in the parking lot.—
Amy Drew Thompson,
The Orlando Sentinel,
4 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Drift.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drift. Accessed 16 Jun. 2025.
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