drifting Meaning, Definition & Usage
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noun aimless wandering from place to place
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verb be in motion due to some air or water current
blow; be adrift; float; drift.
- The leaves were blowing in the wind
- the boat drifted on the lake
- The sailboat was adrift on the open sea
- the shipwrecked boat drifted away from the shore
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verb wander from a direct course or at random
drift; err; stray.
- The child strayed from the path and her parents lost sight of her
- don't drift from the set course
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verb move about aimlessly or without any destination, often in search of food or employment
ramble; stray; cast; swan; drift; wander; tramp; range; rove; roam; vagabond; roll.
- The gypsies roamed the woods
- roving vagabonds
- the wandering Jew
- The cattle roam across the prairie
- the laborers drift from one town to the next
- They rolled from town to town
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verb vary or move from a fixed point or course
drift.
- stock prices are drifting higher
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verb live unhurriedly, irresponsibly, or freely
drift; freewheel.
- My son drifted around for years in California before going to law school
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verb move in an unhurried fashion
drift.
- The unknown young man drifted among the invited guests
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verb cause to be carried by a current
drift.
- drift the boats downstream
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verb drive slowly and far afield for grazing
drift.
- drift the cattle herds westwards
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verb be subject to fluctuation
drift.
- The stock market drifted upward
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verb be piled up in banks or heaps by the force of wind or a current
drift.
- snow drifting several feet high
- sand drifting like snow
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adjective satellite continually changing especially as from one abode or occupation to another
vagabond; floating; aimless; vagrant.
- a drifting double-dealer
- the floating population
- vagrant hippies of the sixties
