English Dictionary

Definition of “drifted”

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Word Frequency

Word Frequency of drifted

drifted (ˈdrɪftɪd) 

Definitions

adjective

  1. accumulated

drift (drɪft Pronunciation for drift ) 

Definitions

verb

  1. also tr to be carried along by or as if by currents of air or water or (of a current) to carry (a vessel, etc) along
  2. to move aimlessly from place to place or from one activity to another
  3. to wander or move gradually away from a fixed course or point; stray
  4. also tr (of snow, sand, etc) to accumulate in heaps or banks or to drive (snow, sand, etc) into heaps or banks

noun

  1. something piled up by the wind or current, such as a snowdrift
  2. tendency, trend, meaning, or purport ⇒ the drift of the argument
  3. a state of indecision or inaction
  4. the extent to which a vessel, aircraft, projectile, etc is driven off its course by adverse winds, tide, or current
  5. a general tendency of surface ocean water to flow in the direction of the prevailing winds ⇒ North Atlantic Drift
  6. a driving movement, force, or influence; impulse
  7. a controlled four-wheel skid, used by racing drivers to take bends at high speed
  8. a loose unstratified deposit of sand, gravel, etc, esp one transported and deposited by a glacier or ice sheet
  9. a horizontal passage in a mine that follows the mineral vein
  10. something, esp a group of animals, driven along by human or natural agencies ⇒ a drift of cattle
  11. Also called: driftpin. a tapering steel tool driven into holes to enlarge or align them before bolting or riveting
  12. an uncontrolled slow change in some operating characteristic of a piece of equipment, esp an electronic circuit or component
  13. (linguistics) gradual change in a language, esp in so far as this is influenced by the internal structure of the language rather than by contact with other languages
  14. (South Africa) a ford
  15. (engineering) a copper or brass bar used as a punch

Derived Forms

ˈdrifty adjective

Word Origin

C13: from Old Norse: snowdrift; related to Old High German trift pasturage

Synonyms

View thesaurus entry
= float, go (aimlessly), bob, coast, slip, sail, slide, glide, meander, waft, be carried along, move gently
= wander, stroll, stray, roam, meander, rove, range, straggle, traipse, stravaig, peregrinate
= stray, wander, roam, meander, digress, get sidetracked, go off at a tangent, get off the point
= pile up, gather, accumulate, amass, bank up, heap up, form drifts
= shift, movement, flow, transfer, relocation, gravitation
= pile, bank, mass, heap, mound, accumulation
= meaning, point, gist, aim, direction, object, import, intention, implication, tendency, significance, thrust, tenor, purport
= trend, course, current, flow, rush, sweep

Example Sentences Including 'drifted'

A car's headlights flared across the street and I drifted into the shadows.
Robert Wilson A DARKENING STAIN (2002)
Alan Smith was not challenged as he drifted left before whipping in an exquisite cross for Fowler, totally unmarked, to finish expertly.
Irish Times (2002)
Even Christian Ziege, who opened in style, drifted out of the game.
Glasgow Herald (2002)
I could have shows but as long as I can pay my bills... "his voice drifted off.
Globe and Mail (2003)
Jupiter, the king of planets in the solar system, drifted tens of millions of kilometres towards the sun in its youth, a new study suggests.
New Scientist (2004)
She drifted into sleep listening to Tarja explain his plans for the men who waited for him in Testra.
Jennifer Fallon TREASON KEEP (2001)
She regarded him quizzically for a moment then her gaze drifted over his shoulder.
Anthony Masters CASCADES - THE DAY OF THE DEAD (2001)
The prize for the boat and crew with the most unusual characteristics goes to a couple who drifted aground three times.
Glasgow Herald (2001)
Thick dust and thicker smoke drifted in the shafts of light.
Bernard Cornwell SHARPE'S TRAFALGAR (2001)

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