Drift Definition
drift
noun
- a force that moves something along
- the gradual departure from an intended course due to external influences (as a ship or plane)
- a process of linguistic change over a period of time
- a large mass of material that is heaped up by the wind or by water currents
- 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"
- the pervading meaning or tenor; "caught the general drift of the conversation"
- a horizontal (or nearly horizontal) passageway in a mine; "they dug a drift parallel with the vein"
verb
- 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"
- 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"
- 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"
- vary or move from a fixed point or course; "stock prices are drifting higher"
- live unhurriedly, irresponsibly, or freely; "My son drifted around for years in California before going to law school"
- move in an unhurried fashion; "The unknown young man drifted among the invited guests"
- cause to be carried by a current; "drift the boats downstream"
- drive slowly and far afield for grazing; "drift the cattle herds westwards"
- be subject to fluctuation; "The stock market drifted upward"
- be piled up in banks or heaps by the force of wind or a current; "snow drifting several feet high"; "sand drifting like snow"
"Drift" in song lyrics
See how drift is used in real songs:
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"Staring at the walls of the booth my mind tends to drift"
The 49ers f/ DOE — Can You Feel That -
"No, I don't drift"
Above the Law f/ Dr. Dre — Living Like Hustlers -
"And I knew the permanancy would drift"
Aesop Rock — The Greatest Pac-Man Victory in History
Words that rhyme with drift
Usage tips for "drift"
Understanding the precise definition of a word helps you use it with confidence. When using "drift" in your writing, consider whether you need the word itself or one of its synonyms — subtle differences in meaning can change the tone of a sentence. If you're writing poetry or song lyrics, check the rhymes for drift to find words that pair well.