drift

/drift/
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drift

A small boat drifts slowly on the calm lake.

Definition

  1. Noun:

    • A slow, gradual movement or change in position: The movement of something, such as a boat, cloud, or idea, carried along by currents of water, air, or circumstance.
    • The general meaning or intent: The underlying theme, direction, or gist of a conversation, argument, or piece of writing.
    • A mass of matter piled up by wind or water: A heap or bank of material, such as snow, sand, or leaves, accumulated by natural forces.
    • A horizontal passage in a mine: A tunnel dug following the direction of a mineral vein.

  2. Verb:

    • To be carried along by currents: To move slowly, often without control or a specific aim, driven by water, air, or other forces.
    • To move or live aimlessly: To go from place to place or through life without a clear purpose, plan, or direction.
    • To accumulate in piles: To be heaped into banks or masses by the force of wind or water.
    • To vary or deviate gradually: To change slowly or stray from an intended course, position, or standard.
Usage Examples

  • Noun:

    • The boat was at the mercy of the ocean's drift. (The boat was carried by the slow movement of the ocean currents.)
    • I couldn't understand every word, but I caught the drift of his speech. (I understood the general meaning of his speech.)
    • After the storm, large drifts of snow blocked the road. (Large piles of snow blocked the road.)
    • The miners entered the narrow drift to follow the coal seam. (The miners entered the horizontal tunnel to follow the coal seam.)

  • Verb:

    • The empty canoe began to drift downstream. (The empty canoe started to be carried along by the river current.)
    • After college, he drifted from job to job for a few years. (He moved aimlessly from one job to another.)
    • Dry leaves drifted against the garden wall. (Dry leaves were blown and piled up against the wall by the wind.)
    • The project's focus has started to drift from its original goals. (The project's focus has slowly moved away from its initial aims.)
Advanced Usage
  • "Get/Catch the drift": To understand the general meaning or intention of something.
    • You don't need to explain every detail; I get the drift.
  • "Drift apart": To gradually become less close or connected, often used for relationships.
    • After moving to different cities, the old friends slowly drifted apart.
  • "Drift off": To fall asleep gradually.
    • He listened to the rain and drifted off to sleep.
Variants and Related Words
  • Drifter (n): A person who moves from place to place without a fixed home or job.
    • He lived as a drifter, traveling across the country by train.
  • Driftwood (n): Wood that has been washed onto a shore or beach by the action of wind or tides.
    • They collected driftwood to make a bonfire.
  • Drift net (n): A large fishing net that is allowed to drift with the tide or current.
    • The use of large drift nets is controversial due to bycatch.
Synonyms
  • Noun (Movement): Flow, current, movement.
  • Noun (Meaning): Gist, tenor, thrust.
  • Noun (Pile): Bank, heap, mound.
  • Verb (Move aimlessly): Wander, roam, meander.
  • Verb (Be carried): Float, glide, be borne along.
Related Phrasal Verbs
  • Drift along: To move or live in a casual, unhurried, and often aimless way.
    • He was just drifting along, with no particular ambitions.
  • Drift in/out: To enter or leave a place casually or without being noticed.
    • People were drifting in and out of the party all evening.
Related Idioms
  • The drift of the argument/debate: The general direction or tendency of a discussion.
    • It was hard to follow the rapid speakers, but the drift of the debate was clear.
  • A drift toward/away from something: A gradual movement in a particular direction, often referring to opinions or trends.
    • There has been a noticeable drift toward more conservative policies.
drift

A small boat drifts slowly on the calm lake.

Noun
  1. a horizontal (or nearly horizontal) passageway in a mine
    • they dug a drift parallel with the vein
  2. the pervading meaning or tenor
    • caught the general drift of the conversation
  3. a general tendency to change (as of opinion)
    • not openly liberal but that is the trend of the book
    • a broad movement of the electorate to the right
  4. a large mass of material that is heaped up by the wind or by water currents
  5. a process of linguistic change over a period of time
  6. the gradual departure from an intended course due to external influences (as a ship or plane)
  7. a force that moves something along
Verb
  1. be piled up in banks or heaps by the force of wind or a current
    • snow drifting several feet high
    • sand drifting like snow
  2. be subject to fluctuation
    • The stock market drifted upward
  3. drive slowly and far afield for grazing
    • drift the cattle herds westwards
  4. cause to be carried by a current
    • drift the boats downstream
  5. move in an unhurried fashion
    • The unknown young man drifted among the invited guests
  6. live unhurriedly, irresponsibly, or freely
    • My son drifted around for years in California before going to law school
  7. vary or move from a fixed point or course
    • stock prices are drifting higher
  8. move about aimlessly or without any destination, often in search of food or employment
    • 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
    • They rolled from town to town
  9. wander from a direct course or at random
    • The child strayed from the path and her parents lost sight of her
    • don't drift from the set course
  10. be in motion due to some air or water current
    • 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

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