ENGLISH
REFERENCE

drift

v. · n.
US //ˈdɹɪft// UK //dɹˈɪft// drift
  1. 1 to move slowly (v.)
    B1 Intermediate

    to move slowly on water or in the air without using power.

    to be carried along by currents of air or water without independent propulsion. Intransitive in this sense.

    Example

    The small boat began to drift out to sea after the engine failed.

    Example

    The abandoned vessel continued to drift aimlessly across the Atlantic, eventually washing up on the shores of Ireland months later.
  2. 2 to move without purpose (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    to move from one place or activity to another without a real plan.

    to move or change state in a casual or aimless manner, often used metaphorically for life choices or attention.

    Example

    After finishing university, he spent a year just drifting from one job to another.

    Example

    Without a clear career path, many graduates find themselves drifting through various entry-level roles before discovering their true vocation.
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  1. 3 to pile up (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    to be blown into large piles by the wind, especially snow or sand.

    to accumulate in heaps or banks through the action of wind or water currents.

    Example

    The snow started to drift against the front door, making it hard to open.

    Example

    Fine desert sand began to drift over the ancient ruins, slowly burying the stone carvings that had been exposed for centuries.
  2. 4 the general meaning (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    the general meaning or basic idea of what someone is saying or writing.

    the general intention, gist, or direction of an argument or piece of communication.

    Example

    I don't speak much French, but I got the drift of what he was saying.

    Example

    Although the technical details were complex, the board members quickly caught the drift of the CEO's strategic proposal.
  3. 5 a pile of snow/sand (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    a large pile of snow or sand that has been blown by the wind.

    a mass of matter, such as snow or sand, heaped up by the force of wind or water.

    Example

    The car got stuck in a deep snow drift on the side of the road.

    Example

    The hikers struggled to navigate through the massive drifts that had formed in the mountain pass overnight.
  4. 6 a slow change (n.)
    C1 Advanced Academic

    a slow and gradual change from one situation or opinion to another.

    a gradual deviation or cumulative change from a set course, standard, or position.

    Example

    The government is worried about the drift toward more violent protests.

    Example

    Economists observed a steady drift in consumer behaviour toward online platforms long before the global pandemic accelerated the trend.
  5. 7 mining passage (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Technical Mining

    a horizontal tunnel or path inside a mine.

    a horizontal or nearly horizontal passage driven in or along a vein or rock formation.

    Example

    The miners followed the drift deep into the mountain to find the gold vein.

    Example

    The structural integrity of the main drift was compromised by the recent seismic activity, forcing a temporary halt to extraction operations.
  6. 8 motorsport (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Informal Sport

    to slide a car sideways through a corner while keeping control.

    to intentionally oversteer a vehicle to cause a loss of traction in the rear wheels while maintaining control through a curve.

    Example

    The driver managed to drift perfectly around the sharp turn.

    Example

    Professional drifters balance throttle and steering to maintain a precise angle of slip throughout the entire duration of the corner.
Origin

From Middle English drift, 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 + -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”), Icelandic drift (“drift, snow-drift”).

Word family
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