Adrift: meaning, definitions and examples

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adrift

 

[ əˈdrɪft ]

Adjective / Adverb
Context #1 | Adjective

feeling lost

Having no fixed course or direction; lost, wandering, or unsettled.

Synonyms

lost, unsettled, wandering

Examples of usage

  • She felt adrift in a sea of unfamiliar faces.
  • After the breakup, he was adrift and unsure of what to do next.
Context #2 | Adjective

floating on water

Floating without being moored or anchored.

Synonyms

floating, unanchored, unmoored

Examples of usage

  • The boat was adrift in the open sea.
  • The buoy was adrift, bobbing aimlessly in the water.
Context #3 | Adverb

off course

Off course or out of control.

Synonyms

off course, off track, out of control

Examples of usage

  • The ship drifted adrift in the storm.
  • The project went adrift due to lack of proper planning.

Translations

Translations of the word "adrift" in other languages:

🇵🇹 à deriva

🇮🇳 बहता हुआ

🇩🇪 treibend

🇮🇩 terombang-ambing

🇺🇦 дрейфуючий

🇵🇱 unoszony prądem

🇯🇵 漂流している (ひょうりゅうしている)

🇫🇷 à la dérive

🇪🇸 a la deriva

🇹🇷 akıntıya kapılmış

🇰🇷 표류하는

🇸🇦 جاري مع التيار

🇨🇿 unášený

🇸🇰 unášaný prúdom

🇨🇳 漂流的 (piāoliú de)

🇸🇮 plavajoč

🇮🇸 reka á reki

🇰🇿 ағысқа кетіп бара жатқан

🇬🇪 მდინარის დინებით

🇦🇿 axına düşmüş

🇲🇽 a la deriva

Etymology

The word 'adrift' originated from the combination of 'a-' meaning 'on' or 'to' and 'drift' meaning 'to float aimlessly or be carried along by currents'. It first appeared in the early 17th century, used to describe ships or boats that were floating without being moored or anchored. Over time, the term expanded to encompass feelings of being lost or wandering, both physically and metaphorically.

See also: drift, drifter, drifters, drifting.

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #19,370, this word belongs to specialized vocabulary. While not common in everyday speech, it enriches your ability to express complex ideas.