drift

verb

/drɪft/

Verb Forms

present simple I / you / we / they drift	/drɪft/ /drɪft/
he / she / it drifts	/drɪfts/ /drɪfts/
past simple drifted	/ˈdrɪftɪd/ /ˈdrɪftɪd/
past participle drifted	/ˈdrɪftɪd/ /ˈdrɪftɪd/
-ing form drifting	/ˈdrɪftɪŋ/ /ˈdrɪftɪŋ/

Phrasal Verbs

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move slowly

[intransitive] (+ adv./prep.) to move along smoothly and slowly in water or air

Clouds drifted across the sky.
The empty boat drifted out to sea.
A cool breeze drifted through the open window.
Smoke drifted across the room.

Extra Examples

The boat drifted slowly downstream.
Smoke drifted up from the campfire.
We drifted with the current.
Cold and hungry, they drifted helplessly closer to the Arctic.
His cigarette smoke drifted away on the breeze.
A single snowflake drifted down and settled on the ground.
Voices drifted up through the floorboards.

Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb

slowly
helplessly
downstream
…

preposition

from
to
towards/toward
…

See full entry

[intransitive] + adv./prep. to move or go somewhere slowly

The crowd drifted away from the scene of the accident.
Her gaze drifted around the room.
People began to drift back to their houses.

Extra Examples

She drifted across the room to where we were standing.
He spent the day drifting aimlessly about the house.
They drifted around south-east Asia for a while and then headed into China.
He allowed his thoughts to drift back to his conversation with Carrie.
He finally drifted back to his home town.

Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb

aimlessly
gradually
slowly
…

verb + drift

begin to
seem to
allow something to
…

preposition

about
around
round
…

See full entry

without purpose

[intransitive] (+ adv./prep.) to do something, happen or change without a particular plan or purpose

I didn't intend to be a teacher—I just drifted into it.
He hasn't decided what to do yet—he's just drifting.
The conversation drifted onto politics.
We seem to be drifting away from the point.

Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb

aimlessly
gradually
slowly
…

verb + drift

begin to
seem to
allow something to
…

preposition

about
around
round
…

See full entry

into state/situation

[intransitive] drift in/into something to go from one situation or state to another without realizing it

Finally she drifted into sleep.
The injured man tried to speak but soon drifted into unconsciousness.
He drifted in and out of consciousness.
She began to drift between sleep and wakefulness.

Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb

aimlessly
gradually
slowly
…

verb + drift

begin to
seem to
allow something to
…

preposition

about
around
round
…

See full entry

of snow/sand

[intransitive] to be blown into large piles by the wind

drifting sand
Some roads are closed because of drifting.

Topics Weatherc1

Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb

slowly
helplessly
downstream
…

preposition

from
to
towards/toward
…

See full entry

float

[transitive] + adv./prep. to make something float somewhere

The logs are drifted downstream to the mill.

drift

noun

/drɪft/

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slow movement

[singular, uncountable] a slow steady movement from one place to another; a slow change or development from one situation to another, especially to something bad

the drift of people away from rural areas into urban slums
attempts to halt the drift towards war

Extra Examples

He criticized the rightward drift of the party.
his drift into crime
Action is needed to prevent a drift into lawlessness.
No attempts were being made to halt the drift towards war.
The polls show a drift back towards Labour.

Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective

gradual
slow
leftward
…

preposition

drift (away) from
drift (back) to
drift into
…

See full entry

of ship

[uncountable] the movement of a ship or plane away from its direction because of currents or wind

Remember to allow for drift.

Topics Transport by waterc1

of sea/air

[uncountable, countable] the movement of the sea or air synonym current

the general direction of drift on the east coast
He knew the hidden drifts in that part of the river.

see also longshore drift, North Atlantic Drift

Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective

gradual
slow
leftward
…

preposition

drift (away) from
drift (back) to
drift into
…

See full entry

of snow

[countable] a large pile of something, especially snow, made by the wind

The road was blocked by deep drifts of snow.

of flowers

[countable] a large mass of something, especially flowers

Plant daffodils in informal drifts.

meaning

[singular] the general meaning of what somebody says or writes synonym gist

Do you catch my drift?
My German isn't very good, but I got the drift of what she said.

Extra Examples

I lost the drift of what she was saying.
I didn't follow the speech exactly, but I caught the main drift of what was being said.

Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective

general
main

verb + drift

catch
follow
get
…

See full entry