drift1 verbdrift2 noun
driftdrift1 /drɪft/ ●●○ verb [intransitive] 
VERB TABLE
drift
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | I, you, we, they | drift |
| he, she, it | drifts | |
| Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | drifted |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have drifted |
| he, she, it | has drifted | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had drifted |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will drift |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have drifted |
| Continuous Form | ||
| Present | I | am drifting |
| he, she, it | is drifting | |
| you, we, they | are drifting | |
| Past | I, he, she, it | was drifting |
| you, we, they | were drifting | |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have been drifting |
| he, she, it | has been drifting | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had been drifting |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will be drifting |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have been drifting |
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- All night Julie drifted in and out of consciousness.
- Vargas Llosa's politics gradually drifted to the right.
- A fine trail of dust dislodged from the door frame and drifted slowly to the ground.
- Gradually they started drifting away to the main building to eat and sleep.
- I walked at his side as if I were drunk, bumping into him, drifting crazily off.
- Ideas drifted quietly like falling petals into his mind.
- It felt as though she'd drifted into some dreamlike watery paradise.
- The smoke drifted lazily away to the westward, revealing to us the gray lines steadily advancing..
- They presently look like a team that could drift farther into oblivion each week.
- We will pay special attention to the underlying social problems in high-crime areas, particularly to prevent young people drifting into crime.
Longman Language Activatorwhen two or more people stop having a relationship, friendship etc
to start to live apart from a sexual partner you used to live with or are married to: · They separated several years ago, but they're not divorced.· Kids are put under a tremendous emotional strain when their parents separate.
if two people split up , they stop having a relationship with each other, especially a sexual relationship: · They're always arguing, but I don't think they'll ever split up.split up with: · He started drinking heavily after he split up with Debbie.
to separate from someone so that your relationship ends - used especially in literature: · They parted in a fairly amicable way.· She hoped that she and Jonathan would never part.
if two people break up , or if their relationship breaks up , they stop having a relationship with each other : · Tom and I broke up last year.· Newspaper stories often have a lot to do with showbusiness marriages breaking up.break up with: · I can't imagine ever breaking up with my wife.
if people drift apart , they gradually become less friendly and see each other less, until their relationship finally ends: · Over the years my schoolfriends and I have drifted apart.· Teddy and Maria never really argued -- they just drifted apart.
if a group of friends go their separate ways , they each go to different places and start doing different things: · After we left college we all went our separate ways and I never saw those friends again.
separated from a relation, especially a close one such as a husband or mother, so that you almost never see them, for example because you have had a serious argument: somebody's estranged wife/husband/father etc: · He is hoping for a reconciliation with his estranged wife Hillary.· In 1975, he wrote a formal letter to his estranged father.be estranged from somebody: · We provide support to people who are estranged from their families.
a situation in which a husband and wife agree to live apart from each other even though they are still married: · In the case of separation or divorce, the children's needs should come first.· Since the separation they've each been seeing different people.trial separation (=to see if it is better or worse being separated): · He said he understood her doubts and perhaps a trial separation might be the answer.
to start sleeping · Are you two going to stop talking and go to sleep?· I looked over at Dave, but he had gone to sleep.· He lay on the sofa and pretended to go to sleep.go back to sleep (=go to sleep again after waking up) · If I wake up in the night, it takes me ages to go back to sleep.
to go to sleep - use this especially when you do not intend to, when you go to sleep quickly, or when going to sleep has been difficult: · Dad always falls asleep in front of the TV after Sunday lunch.· Has Monica fallen asleep yet?· I must have fallen asleep with the light on last night.fall asleep at the wheel (=while you are driving): · One in seven road accidents is caused by drivers falling asleep at the wheel.
to go to sleep when you do not intend to and sleep lightly for a short time: · Sorry, I must have dozed off for a few minutes.· I was just beginning to doze off when the telephone rang.
to go to sleep easily and peacefully: · At around 12.30, she did eventually drop off for an hour or so.· She kept dropping off for a few minutes, before waking with a start.drop off to sleep: · Janir had dropped off to sleep on the living room couch.
to go to sleep when you are sitting down, especially when you are trying hard to stay awake: · Sarah had almost nodded off when Victor suddenly spoke.· As the speaker droned on, only the occasional nudge from my husband kept me from nodding off.
to go to sleep gradually: · He must have drifted off again, for when he awoke, the train had come to a halt.· She was just starting to drift off, when she heard a scream downstairs.drift off to sleep: · That night as he drifted off to sleep, Quincy tried to imagine what the day would have been like if Marta had been there.
British if someone, especially a baby, is off , they have started sleeping: · Is the baby off yet?· I always wait until he's off before I turn the light out.
informal to go to sleep very quickly and deeply because you are very tired: · I went back to bed, and was out like a light.· After a day on the ranch, you'll be out like a light, I can tell you.
informal to fall asleep very quickly, especially in a place where you do not normally sleep: · "Did you get any sleep last night?" "Yeah, I crashed out as soon as my head hit the pillow."· He'd flaked out on my bed.
WORD SETSbackwater, nounbank, nounbank, verbbare, adjectivebarrier reef, nounbay, nounbayou, nounbeach, nounbeck, nounbelt, nounbillow, nounbiting, adjectivebitter, adjectiveblack ice, nounblast, nounblazing, adjectivebleach, verbblizzard, nounblow, verbblowy, adjectivebluff, nounbluster, verbblustery, adjectivebog, nounboiling, adjectiveboulder, nounbracing, adjectivebreaker, nounbreeze, nounbreezy, adjectivebrook, nounbrush, nounbrushwood, nounburn, nounbutte, nouncanyon, nouncascade, nouncataract, nouncave, nouncavern, nounchange, verbchasm, nounchoppy, adjectiveclap, nounclear, verbclement, adjectivecliff, nouncloud, nouncloudburst, nouncloudy, adjectivecoast, nouncoastal, adjectivecoastline, nouncone, nouncopse, nouncountry, nouncranny, nouncrater, nouncreation, nouncreep, verbcrisp, adjectivecrosswind, nouncumulus, nouncyclone, noundale, noundell, noundense, adjectivedew, noundewdrop, noundewfall, noundewy, adjectivedisgorge, verbdog days, noundownpour, noundownriver, adverbdownstream, adverbdownwind, adverbdrift, verbdrift, noundriftwood, noundrizzle, noundrop, verbdrop, noundrought, noundry, adjectivedry land, noundull, adjectivedune, nounduster, noundust storm, nouneast, adjectiveeddy, nounelectrical storm, nounequable, adjectiveeye, nounface, nounfail, verbfair, adjectivefall, nounfell, nounfen, nounfield, nounfierce, adjectivefiord, nounfirth, nounfjord, nounflood, verbflood, nounflood tide, nounflotsam, nounflow, nounflow, verbflower, nounflurry, nounfog, nounfogbound, adjectivefoggy, adjectivefoothill, nounfoothold, nounford, nounforeshore, nounforest, nounfoul, adjectivefreak, adjectivefreeze, nounfresh, adjectivefreshen, verbfreshwater, adjectivefrost, nounfury, noungale, noungale force, adjectivegap, noungentle, adjectivegeyser, nounglacial, adjectiveglen, noungnarled, adjectivegrassy, adjectivegreen, adjectivegreenery, nounground, nounground level, noungulley, noungully, noungust, noungust, verbgusty, adjectivehail, nounhailstone, nounhailstorm, nounhaze, nounheadwind, nounheath, nounheather, nounheat wave, nounhigh tide, nounhigh water, nounhill, nounhillock, nounhillside, nounhill station, nounhilly, adjectivehoarfrost, nounhot spring, nounhummock, nounhurricane, nounice, nouniceberg, nounice cap, nouninclement, adjectiveincline, nounIndian summer, nouninland, adjectiveinland, adverbinlet, nouninshore, adverbisland, nounisle, nounislet, nounjetsam, nounjungle, nounknoll, nounlake, nounlakeside, adjectiveledge, nounlightning, nounlip, nounloch, nounlough, nounlow tide, nounlow water, nounmarshland, nounmeadow, nounmere, nounmild, adjectivemillpond, nounmire, nounmist, nounmisty, adjectivemoan, verbmoan, nounmonsoon, nounmoonless, adjectivemoor, nounmoorland, nounMother Nature, nounmound, nounmountain, nounmountainous, adjectivemountainside, nounmountaintop, nounmouth, nounmudflat, nounmull, nounmurmur, verbmurmur, nounnarrows, nounnestle, verbnew moon, nounnook, nounnorth, adjectivenortheast, adjectivenortheaster, nounnortheasterly, adjectivenortherly, adjectivenorthwest, adjectivenorthwester, nounnorthwesterly, adjectivenotch, nounoasis, nounonshore, adjectiveooze, nounoutcrop, nounovercast, adjectiveozone, nounpack ice, nounpalisade, nounpanorama, nounparch, verbparched, adjectivepass, nounpatchy, adjectivepeak, nounpeal, nounpeasouper, nounpebble, nounpelt, verbpenumbra, nounperishing, adjectivepinewood, nounpinnacle, nounpitiless, adjectivepond, nounpour, verbprecipice, nounprospect, nounpuddle, nounquicksand, nounradiate, verbraging, adjectiverain, nounrainbow, nounrain drop, nounrainfall, nounrainstorm, nounrainwater, nounrainy, adjectiverange, nounrapids, nounrarefied, adjectiveravine, nounraw, adjectiverecede, verbreedy, adjectivereef, nounreservoir, nounridge, nounrift, nounrime, nounrise, verbrise, nounrock, nounrocky, adjectiveroll, verbrolling, adjectiverough, adjectiverural, adjectivescenery, nounscud, verbsea breeze, nounsea mist, nounset, verbshore, nounsky, nounslope, nounsludge, nounsnow, nounsnowbound, adjectivesnow-capped, adjectivesnowdrift, nounsnowfall, nounsnowflake, nounsnowstorm, nounsnowy, adjectivesouth, adjectivesoutheast, adjectivesoutheaster, nounsoutheasterly, adjectivesoutherly, adjectivesouthwest, adjectivesouthwesterly, adjectivespinney, nounspring, nounstream, nounsullen, adjectivesultry, adjectivesummer, nounsummit, nounsun, nounsundown, nounsun-drenched, adjectivesunrise, nounsunset, nounsunshine, nounswamp, nounsweep, verbswollen, adjectivetempestuous, adjectivethaw, verbthaw, nounthicket, nounthin, adjectivethunder, verbthunderbolt, nounthunderstorm, nounthundery, adjectivetide, nountreeless, adjectivetree-lined, adjectivetrough, nounturf, nountussock, nountwilight, nounvale, nounvalley, nounverdant, adjectivevisibility, nounvoid, nounwashout, nounwater, nounwatercourse, nounwaterfall, nounwaterside, nounwaterspout, nounwax, verbwest, adjectivewest, adverbwestbound, adjectivewesterly, adjectivewesternmost, adjectivewestward, adverbwet, adjectivewhirlpool, nounwhirlwind, nounwhite horses, nounwhitewater, nounwild, adjectivewill o' the wisp, nounwind, nounwindstorm, nounwindswept, adjectivewindy, adjectivewood, nounwooded, adjectivewoodland, nounwoodsy, adjectivewoody, adjectivezephyr, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY
The conversation drifted from one topic to another. Idly she let her eyes drift over his desk. She was just drifting into sleep when the alarm went off. He drifted in and out of consciousness. He felt himself drifting off to sleep.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
The conversation drifted from one topic to another. Idly she let her eyes drift over his desk. She was just drifting into sleep when the alarm went off. He drifted in and out of consciousness. He felt himself drifting off to sleep. (=blows very gently)· A cool breeze drifted through the window.
(=move slowly)· A few clouds drifted across the top of the mountains.
(=be awake and then not awake, and then awake again, etc)· He had a high temperature and was drifting in and out of consciousness.
(=moves slightly)· A mist drifted over the marsh.
(=start sleeping, especially without meaning to)· She’d drifted off to sleep on the sofa.
(=keep almost waking up)· I lay in the garden, drifting in and out of sleep.
· The cigarette smoke drifted away on the breeze.
(=is blown into deep piles)· The snow had drifted up against the hedge.
(=snow blown into a pile by the wind)· Sheep became buried in six-foot drifts of snow.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB· Behind her the enchanted dancers spun on; the focus of the circle was now drifting along a violet-lit corridor.· Sometimes Alek rented a boat alone and let it drift along the river past their building.· Instead of drifting along the ceiling of the corridor, the smoke moves along as a solid plug.· He was drifting along, looking half asleep, hands still over his ears.· A watery mist drifted along the corridors of the castle.· Barges rocked gently in front of the Town Hall, the smell of fish drifted along the river wharf.· A smell that made him think of disinfectant drifted along the street to mock him.
· Later in life, Lewis and his father drifted apart, never to be reconciled.· We grew up, went off to different places, drifted apart.· Jabbing with the point he kept off Alexei's attack until the reaction of their mid-air collision made them drift apart again.· If there is any twosome in a family likely to drift apart, it is a pair of brothers.· If you do nothing, there's a danger you could drift apart.· Amelia was still engaged to Sam Chapman, but in fact she had been drifting apart from him for some time.· Without the cement of regular meetings or contact, they gradually began to drift apart.· Where languages grow most unlike one another as they drift apart is in the shapes of their words.
· Chopra could sense ghosts drifting around the castle.· Without other references to compare it with, the light seemed to drift around in the blackness.· At one school during a parents' coffee morning the conversation drifted around to the subject to school uniform.· But she could smell the danger; it drifted around her like a pungent perfume.· We drift around looking the place over for accommodation, eventually selecting a wooden building called Sand Dune Apartments.· Her famine leanness was softened by all the scarlet hair drifting around her.
· As the oar disappeared into the distance, his last chance of returning to the team's hotel with dignity drifted away.· Now that managed funds are doing somewhat better, will investors drift away from index funds?· Some of these girls might, however, drift away again when they reach their crisis period.· If the system started to drift away from the requirements of a coral reef, Gomez would flush the trays.· As a result circulation has fallen by half, and big advertisers have drifted away.· Spectators along the road drifted away as Wasiqi made his way through the course.· Then, inexplicably, I had been out of work for over a year and my few friends were drifting away.· The downturn in the energy industry dragged on so long that workers drifted away and oil field equipment became outdated.
· He had been drifting back and forth between the two ever since.· As the submersible glides over them, clouds of orange dust rise, swirl about, and slowly drift back down.· He hasn't drifted back to his own place yet, eh?· At sundown the men drifted back from the fields exhausted and steaming.· The brain drifts back to full consciousness now that there is a vague hint of light spreading across the eastern sky.· When reports began to drift back from pentecostal revivals abroad, the flaming marvels became even more spectacular.· Her thoughts drifted back to Spike, the metal man, who had been killed less than an hour ago.· But she largely drifted back to B pictures until the Riley series was resurrected in 1953.
· It took just one of the party girls to drift by and break up his life.· The heat shimmering over the asphalt had no snap to it; time drifted by.· Another four years would drift by, and she would still be tied to Julius Landor.· Minutes drifted by in silence that was sweet to us.· Streetlights and shop windows are like stars drifting by.· There may be some high clouds drifting by during the afternoon.· Kenneth Clarke drifted by under his Home Secretarial escort.· Al Maghrun airfield drifted by on the right.
· By the end of our conversation the other players were drifting down to dinner.· I saw her drift down through the steam; she stuck in her elbow.· And the rich, savoury smell of the hare drifted down to meet her, turning her stomach.· Slowly it drifts down across the sea-curled weeds, the anchored life of the marine world.· The emphasis has to be on quality not quantity, otherwise the game will drift down a cul-de-sac of mediocrity.· It had begun to snow, and small flakes were drifting down to settle on their eyelashes.· His hands drifted down my neck and settled on my shoulders.
· This nearly always results in drifting further back without much gain of height and ending up in a worse situation than before.· We felt as if we were driving into the heart of the wilderness, our deadlines drifting further and further away.· The second submarine was being attacked now, but all the time the sound of combat was drifting further away.
· One theory is that the oil has sunk, and is drifting in globules a few metres below the surface of the water.· Cold air drifted in through the front door.· As they waited, other women drifted in and joined the madres.· Who's to say who drifted in, and then drifted out?· She leaned out of the window, trying to enjoy the fresher air; a scent of burning rubber drifted in.· Various actors and entertainers drifted in and out of the Rat Pack.· What if it hadn't drifted in by accident?
· They would start coming in late and drifting off early.· Basically people curled up wherever they found themselves and drifted off.· When he drifted off to sleep at last Henry's cheeks were quite pink with shame.· After he drifted off I got up from my typewriter, knelt beside the couch and stared at his face.· Large as icebergs they drifted off to the north carrying the remaining followers of the Witch King.· Many see their first shooting star, and with that, drift off to never-never land.· Perhaps she drifted off in the bath.· Finally he would stretch out, his breathing would become more regular and he would drift off.
· Between searingly bright periods, the sky boils with thundery clouds that drift on by without releasing a drop.· Then the van rolls forward, gathers speed, and drifts on by.· Perhaps we should think about it, instead of drifting on from day to day.· The purplish thing drifted on to the beach, but I felt too lazy to walk over and examine it.· And so, essentially, this grey situation drifts on-whilst the most basic question of all emerges.· If the paddler builds up speed and then stops paddling, the boat will drift on in a straight line.· So the party drifted on, groups finding each other, merging and then subdividing to make other groups.· He drifted on upwards at an angle.
· Eventually we drift out into the leafy park behind the museum.· Louis music drifts out of clubs large and small throughout the city.· Or sometimes, did not drift out?· Primo had drifted out of the conversation.· She stepped aside into the doorway of the next room while Luch drifted out and down the stair.· Twenty-four hours until kick-off and the hyperbole was drifting out of control.· Awards over and bottles emptied, marketing's great and good drifted out into the night.· The thief drifts out towards the door.
· Tiny feathers of cloud drifted over the horizon like a flock of fire-birds.· The chatter of playing children drifted over from the tent village beside the rows of parked trucks.· She woke slowly from a vague dream as an errant breeze drifted over her face, coming to rest on her mouth.· Women began drifting over to the table.· Smoke that smelt of churches poured from the wicks, drifted over the slowly heaving ocean, hid their feet.· Clouds drifted over to veil the almost full moon, and I heard somewhere from Gammon Ridge a deep, howling wail.· He sat back and let their conversation drift over him.· By morning thick clouds drift over, but the sky between them is deep blue and occasionally the sun peeks through.
· A fine trail of dust dislodged from the door frame and drifted slowly to the ground.· As the submersible glides over them, clouds of orange dust rise, swirl about, and slowly drift back down.· He'd made a good start but now he was faltering, and the focus of attention was drifting slowly away from him.· She watched it with pity and horror in her heart as it drifted slowly toward her.· The sudden breeze introduced through the open door disturbed the orbit of the drone and sent the Doctor drifting slowly backwards.· The flickering insect halo began to drift slowly away, keeping a constant six feet above the earth.· In mid-stream Meg let Ben take the oars from her, changing seats with him nimbly as the boat drifted slowly about.· Vass regarded her flushed face, then let his eyes drift slowly down the length of her slender, dressing-gown-clad figure.
· Superstitions and visions drifted up through the tribes and peoples like evening mists along the Nile.· I got up to close it, and a faint, almost imaginary hum of traffic drifted up out of the valley.· A long groan drifted up the steps.· As we began our dive, smoke drifted up from the jungle ahead of us.· As the ground drifted up he saw the barbarian standing stock still, chest heaving, arms hanging loosely by his sides.· The fragrance of new millet drifted up on a southwestern breeze, reminding him that harvest was approaching.· Voices drifted up through the floorboards every Thursday night.· He let his eyes drift up.
NOUN· Today, two empty boats are drifting home across the hollow fields of fished-out sea.· The boat I stole was drifting down the river, not that I cared, with my blouse and shoes in it.· The boat was drifting into the current, the long poles dipping in the dark water and pushing her away.· It looked as if the caracara would polish off the duck; but our boat drifting nearer made it nervous.· When the Halliday brothers eventually sighted Johnstone, the boat was drifting aimlessly with the tide.· In mid-stream Meg let Ben take the oars from her, changing seats with him nimbly as the boat drifted slowly about.· He brought her into focus, letting the boat drift out of mind.· I stopped the boat and drifted as near as I dared.
· Between searingly bright periods, the sky boils with thundery clouds that drift on by without releasing a drop.· As the road climbed upward, gray-white cloud veils drifted among the dales, chiffon scarves of some giant Isadora Duncan.· Tiny feathers of cloud drifted over the horizon like a flock of fire-birds.· By morning thick clouds drift over, but the sky between them is deep blue and occasionally the sun peeks through.· It was a mild night with clouds drifting across the sky and occasionally obscuring the new moon.· There may be some high clouds drifting by during the afternoon.· Next, look up at the blue sky - and notice a small, dark cloud drifting past.· Rise above the landscape, and experience yourself as the whole sky - with clouds drifting inconsequentially through your vastness.
· The brain drifts back to full consciousness now that there is a vague hint of light spreading across the eastern sky.· He is thought to have a fractured skull and is drifting in and out of consciousness.
· In no time the conversation drifted naturally to him and Rosemary.· He sat back and let their conversation drift over him.· There was the hum of cars up on the main road. Conversation drifted over you as families sauntered by.· At one school during a parents' coffee morning the conversation drifted around to the subject to school uniform.
· Idly, he let his gaze drift across the horizon.
· His hands were automatically driving, but his mind was drifting elsewhere.· Her mind drifted and blanked, refusing her efforts to focus.· Her mind drifted back to the first day they'd seen Crystal Springs.· The shit that could be on his mind drifts upward and stays up there until he finally stands still.· Her mind was drifting on the waves of her pain.· She tried to think of nothing at all, but found her mind drifting back to that one subject all the time.· Frowning, she let her mind drift back to the events of two years ago.· His mind drifted away on the tides of the kif, and then floated back.
· Snake-like curls of mist drifted downwards.· Prom somewhere, and none could say quite where, a mist began to drift.· A watery mist drifted along the corridors of the castle.· January: mist drifts over the fields, deepening like water.
· It was a mild night with clouds drifting across the sky and occasionally obscuring the new moon.· Through the haze of sleep, vague details of last night began drifting into her mind.· He had lain in bed night after night drifting into sleep on a tide of euphoria.· Various schemes were mooted for the night, various groups drifted in and out.
· It must have drifted down the river.· The boat I stole was drifting down the river, not that I cared, with my blouse and shoes in it.· They were now drifting down river much faster than before.· Sometimes Alek rented a boat alone and let it drift along the river past their building.· Barges rocked gently in front of the Town Hall, the smell of fish drifted along the river wharf.
· A gentle Mozart sonata drifted round the room.· He drifts through the living room toward the windows, apparently to check the view.· She would drift listlessly about the rooms, her dreams extinguished.· People come drifting into the room to see what's up.· The passengers drifted in from their rooms and the dome car and fell into by now predictable patterns of seating.· Acrid fumes from the gunfire drifted round the silent room.
· It reproduces by releasing single-celled spores which drift off in the sea and grow into new plants.· A few chuckles and snatches of song could be heard drifting across the sea of sheep, then silence.
· Even if the man drifted close to sleep, which the stillness encouraged, the union remained unbroken.· She had passed out there-or perhaps just lain down and drifted into sleep.· Whenever he drifts toward sleep he feels close to distinguishing the words.· As soon as she drifted into sleep, she was back in the Close, her gaze locked on the white huddled figure.· Bobby must have drifted into sleep for he was wakened by a knock at the door.· Tired after two performances that day, she began to drift between sleep and wakefulness.· With the sedative, Marek drifted into sleep but he did not wake up.
· And the rich, savoury smell of the hare drifted down to meet her, turning her stomach.· As the smell of fresh paint drifted through the air it became linked for us with summer and liberty.· A faint smell of frying bacon drifted up from the kitchen.· The smell of the smoke drifted back towards Cassie across the garden.· The smell of evil embrocation drifted up even as high as the clouds of Heaven.· Barges rocked gently in front of the Town Hall, the smell of fish drifted along the river wharf.
· Trails of blue cigarette smoke would drift tentatively upward.· As we began our dive, smoke drifted up from the jungle ahead of us.· The smell of the smoke drifted back towards Cassie across the garden.· The wind lifts the smoke and drifts it away....· Unseen in the wild night, the occasional wisp of smoke drifted among the trunks.· A light wind sprang up, and the smoke of their guns drifted over the valley towards the cemetery.· They made towards it as the first flare hit the sea, continuing to burn, with clouds of smoke drifting upwards.· The smoke drifted lazily away to the westward, revealing to us the gray lines steadily advancing...
· Glancing around, she deduced from the sounds drifting from the kitchen that Tara was preparing a meal.· The others nodded, made agreeable sounds, and drifted off down the corridor.· She fell asleep to the sound of music drifting upwards from the drawing-room.· A loud crash could be heard from the room and the sound of wailing drifted into the courtroom, startling onlookers.· The sound of singing came drifting up from the quays below.· The sound of hammering drifted down from Fernbank.· The second submarine was being attacked now, but all the time the sound of combat was drifting further away.· It was still very early and the village of Axe was quiet, but morning sounds drifted faintly to her ears.
· Her thoughts drifted, but she was not asleep.· Time and again his thoughts would begin to drift, and soon thereafter his steps would follow suit.· Her thoughts drifted back to Spike, the metal man, who had been killed less than an hour ago.· Her thoughts drifted to when she herself had been seventeen.· His thoughts drifted back to the Connons.· His thoughts kept drifting back to Zoser.· But the daggers had remained sheathed during the meal, and she had allowed her thoughts to drift into those glittering waters.
· Less than a minute later noise erupted from the drawing room and excited voices drifted down the hall.· Once or twice he found himself tugged away on the backwash of voices, drifting here and there.
· Every angle, line and contour were gently rounded as though the snow had drifted slightly in the wind.· The scents of its rare grasses and reeds drift gently on the wind bringing calm and tranquillity to its banks.
· At first she could see only a shape drifting before the windows on the first floor.· Birdsong drifted through the open window and a breeze puffed out the curtains.· The voice of Miss Norman, the games teacher, drifted in at the window now and again.· Marge helped serve coffee and triple-layer cake from the old highboy, as the scent of roses drifted through the open windows.· Coolness drifted in the window, and a fragrance of wet grass.
VERB· Unfortunately, the legal aid statistics have not provided the direct evidence that the levels have been allowed to drift.· It can not be allowed to drift into complacency.· Susan allowed the ship to drift down, and relaxed as the bulk settled into the receptive, motherly ground.· Disrupting the pavement also allows sand dunes to drift into habitable areas.· Don't allow your attention to drift.· Houseplants should be allowed to drift into semi-dormancy.· But the daggers had remained sheathed during the meal, and she had allowed her thoughts to drift into those glittering waters.· The district health authority could not be in a better position because it allowed the situation to drift.
· When Bath won an attacking scrum on the right and Swift began to drift across his marker did not follow him.· Women began drifting over to the table.· The excitement died away and the crowd began to drift off down the side streets.· Time and again his thoughts would begin to drift, and soon thereafter his steps would follow suit.· At this point the Arsenal fans began to drift home, their evening well and truly over.· When reports began to drift back from pentecostal revivals abroad, the flaming marvels became even more spectacular.· Materials and food prices began to drift downwards from the summer of 1973.· After several weeks of disrupted business, the dealers began to drift away.
· He sat back and let their conversation drift over him.· If you have an agitated mind, the tension in your body is not going to let you drift off.· Casually she let her scarf drift to the ground.· He let his eyes drift up.· An odd kind of row, he mused, letting himself drift.· Sometimes Alek rented a boat alone and let it drift along the river past their building.· Snuggling into Patrick, she closed her eyes and let the memories drift in front of her closed lids.· Vass regarded her flushed face, then let his eyes drift slowly down the length of her slender, dressing-gown-clad figure.
· A fleeting, hard look seemed to drift across her eyes.· We seemed to drift into tranquility once we reached the long plateau stretch on the high road to Taos.· According to our panel all three parties, including Labour, seemed to drift away from the issue as the campaign progressed.· She noticed that everyone seemed to have drifted a little closer; was talking a little less, watching their backs.· Fred seems to have drifted off into a half-lit world.· Without other references to compare it with, the light seemed to drift around in the blackness.· The fine mist at the edges of the room seemed to be drifting closer, enveloping her in its clinging tendrils.· For a time it overcame her, and she seemed to drift in black depths.
· I got it when things started drifting away from us around February time.· If the system started to drift away from the requirements of a coral reef, Gomez would flush the trays.· But this was not enough to keep away mosquitoes, which started to arrive and drift towards the flames.· Gradually they started drifting away to the main building to eat and sleep.· As a result she starts to drift through space in the opposite direction.· He should have enough time to finish his drink and be away before his fellow-officers started to drift in.
· Each follows the inputs nearer to it and tends to drift away from other nodes.· The problem is that the meaning of a sentence tends to drift off into what linguists would call the Indeterminate Adverbial Phrase.· Answer guide: If concise objectives are not set organizations will tend to drift a long not knowing where they are going.
PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
1move slowly to move slowly on water or in the airdrift out/towards etc- I think Dan and Tina just grew apart.
- If there is any twosome in a family likely to drift apart, it is a pair of brothers.
- Instead, it was suggested the couple, who married in their early 20s, had simply grown up and grown apart.
- Jabbing with the point he kept off Alexei's attack until the reaction of their mid-air collision made them drift apart again.
- Later in life, Lewis and his father drifted apart, never to be reconciled.
- Such barrenness is the inevitable outcome where two people are growing apart and out of love.
- We grew up, went off to different places, drifted apart.
- Work-inhibited students have not grown apart from their parents and become independent.
The rubber raft drifted out to sea. Smoke drifted up from the jungle ahead of us.2without plan to move, change, or do something without any plan or purposedrift around/along etc Jenni spent the year drifting around Europe.drift into I just drifted into teaching, really.drift away The others drifted away. Melanie stayed.drift from something to something The conversation drifted from one topic to another.let your gaze/eyes/thoughts/mind etc drift Idly she let her eyes drift over his desk.3change to gradually change from being in one condition, situation etc into another without realizing itdrift into She was just drifting into sleep when the alarm went off. He drifted in and out of consciousness.4money/prices if values, prices, shares etc drift, they gradually change: The dollar drifted lower against the yen today.5snow/sand if snow, sand etc drifts, the wind blows it into large piles6let something drift to allow something, especially something bad, to continue in the same way: He couldn’t let the matter drift for much longer.drift apart phrasal verb if people drift apart, their relationship gradually ends: Over the years my college friends and I have drifted apart.drift off phrasal verb to gradually fall asleep: I was just drifting off when the phone rang. He felt himself drifting off to sleep.drift1 verbdrift2 noun
driftdrift2 ●○○ noun WORD ORIGINdrift2
Origin:
1300-1400 Probably from Old Norse drift ‘pile of wind-blown snow’; related to driveEXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- All the roads to Denver were blocked by snow drifts.
- I follow your drift, but I just don't believe it.
- It was a complicated argument but I think I caught his drift.
- The drift of his letter is that he wants to come back.
- The party has experienced a drift toward the right in the last two years.
- He was breathing, but his leg was a mess, must have been hit on the drift down.
- High winds were becoming a problem, blowing snow into drifts 3 to 5 feet high in places.
- His presidential hopes thus suffered a fatal blow in the snow drifts of New Hampshire.
- Make sure that you correct the drift before touch down and then be prepared to prevent the swing into wind.
- The drifts were granulated and shrinking under my eyes.
- The endless drift from the past to the future.
Longman Language Activatorthe main meaning of something
the main idea of an argument, discussion, statement etc that shows its general or most important meaning: the point of something: · The point of the story did not emerge until the end of the film.somebody's point: · What's your point? Do you think I'm not good enough for your daughter?miss the point (=not understand the main idea): · The talk was about symbolism in art -- Len missed the point and thought it was about painting techniques.the point is.... (=used for mentioning the most important thing): · The point is, you should have told me where you were going.come/get to the point (=to reach the most important part of what you want to say): · "I'll come straight to the point," said the doctor. "I think you are suffering from depression."
the main idea and meaning of something such as an article or a speech: the gist of something: · I don't know the whole story but this is the gist of it.get the gist (of something) (=understand the gist of something): · Read the article once through to get the gist of it.· Students are encouraged to read the text, getting the gist, then go deeper into the meaning.
the most important meaning of something such as an argument or piece of writing: the essence of something: · The essence of his argument is that human character is formed by society.
the main set of ideas involved in something such as an explanation, argument, or account of something: the drift of something: · The drift of his letter is that he wants to come back.catch/get/follow somebody's drift (=understand the basic idea of what someone is saying): · It was a complicated argument but I think I caught his drift.· I follow your drift, but I just don't believe it.
the most important message of an argument, explanation etc, especially when it consists of a set of connected ideas leading to a final answer or idea: the thrust of something: · It is difficult to argue with the thrust of Davidson's analysis of the situation.· The overall thrust of her argument was that women are still oppressed in all areas of life.
formal the most important ideas contained in an argument or piece of writing: the substance of something: · The substance of Marx's views is the same in both of these books.
WORD SETSbackwater, nounbank, nounbank, verbbare, adjectivebarrier reef, nounbay, nounbayou, nounbeach, nounbeck, nounbelt, nounbillow, nounbiting, adjectivebitter, adjectiveblack ice, nounblast, nounblazing, adjectivebleach, verbblizzard, nounblow, verbblowy, adjectivebluff, nounbluster, verbblustery, adjectivebog, nounboiling, adjectiveboulder, nounbracing, adjectivebreaker, nounbreeze, nounbreezy, adjectivebrook, nounbrush, nounbrushwood, nounburn, nounbutte, nouncanyon, nouncascade, nouncataract, nouncave, nouncavern, nounchange, verbchasm, nounchoppy, adjectiveclap, nounclear, verbclement, adjectivecliff, nouncloud, nouncloudburst, nouncloudy, adjectivecoast, nouncoastal, adjectivecoastline, nouncone, nouncopse, nouncountry, nouncranny, nouncrater, nouncreation, nouncreep, verbcrisp, adjectivecrosswind, nouncumulus, nouncyclone, noundale, noundell, noundense, adjectivedew, noundewdrop, noundewfall, noundewy, adjectivedisgorge, verbdog days, noundownpour, noundownriver, adverbdownstream, adverbdownwind, adverbdrift, verbdrift, noundriftwood, noundrizzle, noundrop, verbdrop, noundrought, noundry, adjectivedry land, noundull, adjectivedune, nounduster, noundust storm, nouneast, adjectiveeddy, nounelectrical storm, nounequable, adjectiveeye, nounface, nounfail, verbfair, adjectivefall, nounfell, nounfen, nounfield, nounfierce, adjectivefiord, nounfirth, nounfjord, nounflood, verbflood, nounflood tide, nounflotsam, nounflow, nounflow, verbflower, nounflurry, nounfog, nounfogbound, adjectivefoggy, adjectivefoothill, nounfoothold, nounford, nounforeshore, nounforest, nounfoul, adjectivefreak, adjectivefreeze, nounfresh, adjectivefreshen, verbfreshwater, adjectivefrost, nounfury, noungale, noungale force, adjectivegap, noungentle, adjectivegeyser, nounglacial, adjectiveglen, noungnarled, adjectivegrassy, adjectivegreen, adjectivegreenery, nounground, nounground level, noungulley, noungully, noungust, noungust, verbgusty, adjectivehail, nounhailstone, nounhailstorm, nounhaze, nounheadwind, nounheath, nounheather, nounheat wave, nounhigh tide, nounhigh water, nounhill, nounhillock, nounhillside, nounhill station, nounhilly, adjectivehoarfrost, nounhot spring, nounhummock, nounhurricane, nounice, nouniceberg, nounice cap, nouninclement, adjectiveincline, nounIndian summer, nouninland, adjectiveinland, adverbinlet, nouninshore, adverbisland, nounisle, nounislet, nounjetsam, nounjungle, nounknoll, nounlake, nounlakeside, adjectiveledge, nounlightning, nounlip, nounloch, nounlough, nounlow tide, nounlow water, nounmarshland, nounmeadow, nounmere, nounmild, adjectivemillpond, nounmire, nounmist, nounmisty, adjectivemoan, verbmoan, nounmonsoon, nounmoonless, adjectivemoor, nounmoorland, nounMother Nature, nounmound, nounmountain, nounmountainous, adjectivemountainside, nounmountaintop, nounmouth, nounmudflat, nounmull, nounmurmur, verbmurmur, nounnarrows, nounnestle, verbnew moon, nounnook, nounnorth, adjectivenortheast, adjectivenortheaster, nounnortheasterly, adjectivenortherly, adjectivenorthwest, adjectivenorthwester, nounnorthwesterly, adjectivenotch, nounoasis, nounonshore, adjectiveooze, nounoutcrop, nounovercast, adjectiveozone, nounpack ice, nounpalisade, nounpanorama, nounparch, verbparched, adjectivepass, nounpatchy, adjectivepeak, nounpeal, nounpeasouper, nounpebble, nounpelt, verbpenumbra, nounperishing, adjectivepinewood, nounpinnacle, nounpitiless, adjectivepond, nounpour, verbprecipice, nounprospect, nounpuddle, nounquicksand, nounradiate, verbraging, adjectiverain, nounrainbow, nounrain drop, nounrainfall, nounrainstorm, nounrainwater, nounrainy, adjectiverange, nounrapids, nounrarefied, adjectiveravine, nounraw, adjectiverecede, verbreedy, adjectivereef, nounreservoir, nounridge, nounrift, nounrime, nounrise, verbrise, nounrock, nounrocky, adjectiveroll, verbrolling, adjectiverough, adjectiverural, adjectivescenery, nounscud, verbsea breeze, nounsea mist, nounset, verbshore, nounsky, nounslope, nounsludge, nounsnow, nounsnowbound, adjectivesnow-capped, adjectivesnowdrift, nounsnowfall, nounsnowflake, nounsnowstorm, nounsnowy, adjectivesouth, adjectivesoutheast, adjectivesoutheaster, nounsoutheasterly, adjectivesoutherly, adjectivesouthwest, adjectivesouthwesterly, adjectivespinney, nounspring, nounstream, nounsullen, adjectivesultry, adjectivesummer, nounsummit, nounsun, nounsundown, nounsun-drenched, adjectivesunrise, nounsunset, nounsunshine, nounswamp, nounsweep, verbswollen, adjectivetempestuous, adjectivethaw, verbthaw, nounthicket, nounthin, adjectivethunder, verbthunderbolt, nounthunderstorm, nounthundery, adjectivetide, nountreeless, adjectivetree-lined, adjectivetrough, nounturf, nountussock, nountwilight, nounvale, nounvalley, nounverdant, adjectivevisibility, nounvoid, nounwashout, nounwater, nounwatercourse, nounwaterfall, nounwaterside, nounwaterspout, nounwax, verbwest, adjectivewest, adverbwestbound, adjectivewesterly, adjectivewesternmost, adjectivewestward, adverbwet, adjectivewhirlpool, nounwhirlwind, nounwhite horses, nounwhitewater, nounwild, adjectivewill o' the wisp, nounwind, nounwindstorm, nounwindswept, adjectivewindy, adjectivewood, nounwooded, adjectivewoodland, nounwoodsy, adjectivewoody, adjectivezephyr, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY
(=understand the general meaning of what someone is saying) She didn’t quite get my drift, did she?
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES She didn’t quite get my drift, did she? (=blows very gently)· A cool breeze drifted through the window.
(=move slowly)· A few clouds drifted across the top of the mountains.
(=be awake and then not awake, and then awake again, etc)· He had a high temperature and was drifting in and out of consciousness.
(=moves slightly)· A mist drifted over the marsh.
(=start sleeping, especially without meaning to)· She’d drifted off to sleep on the sofa.
(=keep almost waking up)· I lay in the garden, drifting in and out of sleep.
· The cigarette smoke drifted away on the breeze.
(=is blown into deep piles)· The snow had drifted up against the hedge.
(=snow blown into a pile by the wind)· Sheep became buried in six-foot drifts of snow.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSNOUN· A snow drift of paper is going to hit it.· His presidential hopes thus suffered a fatal blow in the snow drifts of New Hampshire.· Mountain goats have to contend with narrow ice-covered ledges, deep snow drifts and avalanches.
VERB· She could feel the red stain crawl up her neck as she caught his drift.· Right from Huntington Beach, if you catch the drift.· There are more where that came from, but you will easily catch the drift.· The old man craned his head to catch a drift of the conversation.· He caught the drift of her thoughts, she could tell.· She wiped her eyes with a lace handkerchief and he caught the drift of her exotic scent.· Some of the other children were sitting up, alert now, as they caught the drift of what he was saying.· If you catch my on-shore drift.
· The flush in the pocket types, then bought hot sausages on sticks. Get my drift.· Rules of engagement there are, but like I say, freedom of action, if you get my drift.· I've forgotten when I was last there. Get my drift?· No, but-do you get my drift?
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRYPHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
1snow/sand [countable] a large pile of snow or sand that has been blown by the winddrift of- Above all the drift to a self-seeking, self-satisfying, self-fulfilling approach to relationships is where the rot is really setting in.
- For short periods the dominant direction of the drift may be reversed by abnormal wind conditions.
- Having the drift right is the essence of missing the point altogether.
- He turned and ran, along the ride, up the drift, not looking back.
- He was breathing, but his leg was a mess, must have been hit on the drift down.
- In another hour, the drifts would be too deep to walk through.
- Right from Huntington Beach, if you catch the drift.
- The seminar also called on governments to support small farmers, in order to help reduce the drift to the cities.
- I think Dan and Tina just grew apart.
- If there is any twosome in a family likely to drift apart, it is a pair of brothers.
- Instead, it was suggested the couple, who married in their early 20s, had simply grown up and grown apart.
- Jabbing with the point he kept off Alexei's attack until the reaction of their mid-air collision made them drift apart again.
- Later in life, Lewis and his father drifted apart, never to be reconciled.
- Such barrenness is the inevitable outcome where two people are growing apart and out of love.
- We grew up, went off to different places, drifted apart.
- Work-inhibited students have not grown apart from their parents and become independent.
The road is blocked with massive drifts of snow. a snow drift2change [singular] a slow change or development from one situation, opinion etc to anotherdrift towards/to a drift towards longer working hours3movement of people [singular, uncountable] a slow movement of large numbers of people that has not been planneddrift from/to/into the drift from the countryside to the cities4the drift (of something) the general meaning of what someone is saying: So what’s the drift of the argument?follow/get/catch somebody’s drift (=understand the general meaning of what someone is saying) She didn’t quite get my drift, did she?5ships/planes [uncountable] the movement of a ship or plane from its original direction because of the movement of the wind or water6slow movement [uncountable] very slow movement, especially over water or through the air