noun Common

drift

drihft

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Drift (noun) means a slow, gradual movement or change, often without direct control. Example: “There has been a gradual drift toward remote work.”

noun

A slow, gradual movement or change, often without direct control.

"There has been a gradual drift toward remote work."

"The boat's drift carried it away from the dock."

"Over the years there was a slow drift of young families away from the village."

A large mound of snow, sand, or debris piled up by wind or current.

"The road was blocked by a snow drift after the storm."

"Walkers struggled through a deep drift that had built up against the garden wall."

"The wind piled the sand into a long drift across the car park."

The general meaning or intention of something said.

"I didn't catch every word, but I got the drift."

"If you follow my drift, we should leave before the traffic gets bad."

"She explained it badly, but I caught her drift quickly."

verb

To move slowly and without control, carried by wind, water, or circumstance.

"The raft drifted downstream overnight."

"His attention drifted during the long meeting."

"Clouds drifted lazily across the sky all afternoon."

How to use drift

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishSlow, passive movement — whether it's snow piling up, a boat floating off course, or a conversation's general point.

Common mistake

"Drift off" usually means falling asleep, not literally floating away.

Common pairings

drift apart snow drift get the drift drift off

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

Word forms

Plural: drifts
Third person singular: drifts
Past tense: drifted

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There has been a gradual _____ toward remote work.

Etymology

Came from Middle English drift or dryft (“act of driving, drove, shower of rain or snow, impulse”), from Old English *drift (“drift”), from Proto-Germanic *driftiz (“drift”), from Proto-Indo-European *dʰreybʰ- (“to drive, push”). Equivalent to drive plus -t; cognate with North Frisian drift (“drift”), Saterland Frisian Drift (“current, flow, stream, drift”), Dutch drift (“drift, passion, urge”), German Drift (“drift”) and Trift (“drove, pasture”), Danish drift (“impulse, instinct”), Swedish drift (“impulse, instinct”) and Icelandic drift (“drift, snow-drift”).

Origin: Middle English

Synonyms

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float wander meander sway purport impetus movement impulsion heading gallery trend roll

Related words

head picture drive movement direction campaign activity wind

Rhymes for drift

lift gift sift rift swift shift grift thrift

See all rhymes for drift →

Frequently asked questions

What does “drift” mean?

The word “drift” means a slow, gradual movement or change, often without direct control. In plain terms, slow, passive movement — whether it's snow piling up, a boat floating off course, or a conversation's general point.

How do you pronounce “drift”?

“Drift” is pronounced drihft (/dɹɪft/ in IPA).

How do you use “drift” in a sentence?

Here is “drift” used in a sentence: “There has been a gradual drift toward remote work.”

What part of speech is “drift”?

Depending on how it is used, “drift” can be a noun and a verb.

Is “drift” a common word?

“Drift” is a fairly common word in modern English.

How many meanings does “drift” have?

“Drift” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a slow, gradual movement or change, often without direct control.

What is the difference between drift and float?

Drift emphasizes slow, gradual movement carried by wind, water, or circumstance, often without direct control or clear direction. Float simply describes staying on or near the surface of a liquid or in the air, without necessarily implying movement.

How is drift used as a noun for snow or sand?

As a noun, a drift refers to a large mound of snow, sand, or debris piled up by wind or current, such as a snowdrift blocking a road.

How is drift used as a verb?

As a verb, drift means to move slowly and without control, carried by wind, water, or circumstance, as in "the boat drifted out to sea" or "her attention drifted during the lecture."

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head picture drive movement direction campaign activity wind