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.

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