drift - Definition & Meaning | Lingo Dictionary

drift

Third Person

drifts

Present Participle

drifting

Past Tense

drifted

Past Participle

drifted

to slowly move in the air or on water

As the autumn leaves fell from the trees, they would drift with the gentle breeze.
In the serene lake, the small boat would drift peacefully with the current.
The dandelion seeds would drift in the air, dispersing with the wind.
In the quiet forest, the mist would drift through the trees.

Synonyms:

to move with a relaxed pace, without a specific purpose or direction

After the picnic, they decided to drift along the beach.
In the city park, people would often drift through the tree-lined pathways.
The friends began to drift around the neighborhood, chatting and exploring.
On lazy Sunday afternoons, the residents of the small town would drift through the local market.
After the museum visit, they decided to drift through the nearby art district.

Synonyms:

to veer off or deviate from an intended path, course, or set parameters

As the discussion continued, the conversation would often drift away from the main topic.
The financial markets can be unpredictable, causing stock prices to drift from the anticipated values.
Despite the pilot's efforts, the airplane began to drift off its designated flight path.
The team noticed that the software development project started to drift in terms of features.
In the face of changing priorities, the company's goals may drift over time.

Synonyms:

to accumulate or be piled into heaps due to the action of the wind or a current

After the blizzard, the snow began to drift against the buildings.
In the autumn wind, leaves would drift into piles at the edges of the streets.
As the winter storm intensified, the snowflakes would drift and accumulate in deep banks.
The beach was transformed after a windy night, with the sand drifting into small dunes along the shore.

to guide or lead livestock at a slow pace, typically to allow them to graze

transitive

The rancher would drift the cattle along the open range, allowing them to graze freely.
The cowboys would drift the herd across the plains, ensuring they had access to fresh grass.
Shepherds often drift their sheep from one grazing area to another.
As the sun set, the farmer decided to drift the horses to a new field, allowing them to graze before nightfall.

to cause an object or substance to be carried along by the natural movement of air, water, or another current

transitive

The strong currents in the river drifted the logs downstream, creating a potential hazard for navigation.
Ocean currents can drift debris far from its original location.
As the storm intensified, the powerful gusts of wind drifted the sailboat away from its mooring.
The ice floes were drifted by the polar currents, carrying them southward into warmer waters.
She watched as the river currents drifted the paper boats she had released into the distance.

to move through life or a period of time without a clear direction or purpose

to move between situations or roles without a specific plan or goal, often without long-term commitment