drift apart

Học thuật
Thân thiện
Definition

Verb (phrasal verb): - To gradually become less close, friendly, or involved with someone over time, often due to changing circumstances, interests, or life paths. It implies a slow, almost imperceptible process of growing distant.

Usage

This phrasal verb is used to describe the natural, gradual end of a relationship or friendship, not a sudden argument or breakup. It is intransitive and often used with plural subjects (e.g., they, we, friends) or a singular subject followed by from (e.g., he drifted apart from...).

Examples
  • Basic Usage:
    • After high school, many close friends drift apart as they go to different colleges.
    • They were inseparable as children, but they've drifted apart over the years.
  • With 'from':
    • She gradually drifted apart from her old colleagues after changing careers.
Advanced Usage / Nuances
  • The phrase often carries a tone of nostalgia or quiet sadness, acknowledging the change as a natural part of life rather than a conflict.
  • It can describe the distancing in any personal relationship: friendships, family ties, or romantic partnerships.
  • "to drift apart" vs. "to break up": "Drift apart" suggests a slow fading, while "break up" implies a more definite, often deliberate, end to a romantic relationship.
Variants and Related Words
  • Drift (verb): To be carried along by currents of air or water; to move or progress passively without a clear direction. This is the core meaning from which the phrasal verb derives its sense of passive, gradual change.
  • Grow apart (phrasal verb): A very close synonym, often used interchangeably with "drift apart." It may place slightly more emphasis on internal changes (e.g., in personality or interests) as the cause.
Synonyms
  • Grow apart: To become less close due to developing different attitudes or interests.
  • Become distant: To become less emotionally connected.
  • Lose touch: To gradually stop communicating with someone.
Antonyms
  • Grow closer: To become more intimate or friendly.
  • Stay in touch: To maintain contact and communication.
  • Reconnect: To establish a connection again after a period of being apart.
Related Idioms / Phrases
  • Go their separate ways: To start living different lives, often leading to drifting apart.
    • After the project ended, the team went their separate ways.
Verb
  1. lose personal contact over time
    • The two women, who had been roommates in college, drifted apart after they got married

Từ đồng nghĩa