[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/drift/)

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# drift

verb (drift, drifts, drifted, drifting); noun (a drift, drifts)

«drift» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. To drift means to be carried slowly along by water or air, without control. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/drift/#m1)
2. To drift means to move or change slowly without a plan: drift off to sleep, drift apart. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/drift/#m2)
3. A drift is a big pile of snow or sand blown by the wind. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/drift/#m3)
4. The drift of what someone says is its general meaning. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/drift/#m4)

### In the lessons

In geography and science, boats, leaves and icebergs drift on water; continents slowly drift over millions of years. In winter, snowdrifts block roads. In safety lessons at the beach, inflatables can drift out to sea, so stay close to shore. Phrases: drift off, drift apart, snowdrift, get the drift.

### Examples

- The boat drifted down the river. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/drift/#x1)
- Leaves drifted slowly to the ground. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/drift/#x2)
- I drifted off to sleep during the film. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/drift/#x3)
- The snow made huge drifts by the door. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/drift/#x4)
- Don't let your inflatable drift out to sea. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/drift/#x5)
- The continents drift very slowly. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/drift/#x6)
- Do you get my drift? [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/drift/#x7)
- The boat drifted farther and farther away. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/drift/#x8)

### Note

Regular verb: drifted. Countable noun: a drift, drifts; snowdrift is one word. Safety: if you drift out at sea, stay calm, float, wave and shout for help; don't swim against a rip current.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «drift» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/drift/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«drift» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/drift.html) on Mova free.