# drifting

/ˈdɹɪftɪŋ/ (US) · /dɹˈɪftɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/drifting
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. moving aimlessly

verb · CEFR B1

moving slowly on water or in the air without being controlled by anyone.

For teachers: moving passively or aimlessly, propelled by currents of water or air rather than internal power.

- The empty boat was drifting slowly away from the shore.
- After the engine failed, the vessel spent three days drifting across the bay before a rescue team spotted it.

### 2. losing focus

verb · CEFR B2

gradually losing interest or moving from one thought to another without a plan.

For teachers: undergoing a gradual shift in attention, focus, or state of mind, often unintentionally.

- I found my mind drifting during the long afternoon meeting.
- The speaker noticed the audience's attention drifting as he delved into the more technical aspects of the report.

### 3. car racing technique

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a style of driving where the driver slides the car sideways through a corner.

For teachers: a driving technique and motor sport where the driver intentionally oversteers to cause a loss of traction while maintaining control.

- He practiced drifting his car on the empty track every weekend.
- Professional drifting requires precise throttle control and steering input to maintain a high-angle slide without spinning out.

### 4. without a goal

adjective · CEFR B2

having no clear purpose or direction in life.

For teachers: characterised by a lack of direction, ambition, or fixed purpose.

- He spent a few drifting years traveling around Europe after university.
- The novel depicts the drifting lives of young adults struggling to find meaning in a rapidly changing economy.

## Examples

- The boat drifted down the river.
- The small boat drifted gently toward the shore as the wind died down.
- Ideas often drift through the collective consciousness, gaining traction only when they align with the prevailing cultural mood.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.