Adrift: meaning, definitions and examples

Used to describe a person or thing that is floating and moving without control or direction. It can be used metaphorically for someone who feels aimless or without purpose.

• The boat was adrift on the open sea.
• After losing his job, he felt completely adrift.

Commonly used to describe someone who has gone astray or is unable to find their way. It can also refer to someone who feels emotionally or mentally confused.

• She got lost in the forest.
• He felt lost after his divorce.

Typically used for someone or something that is moving from place to place without a fixed course or destination. It can imply aimlessness or lack of purpose.

• He spent the day wandering around the city.
• Her mind was wandering during the meeting.

Used to describe a state of being anxious, worried, or unsure about something. It can also refer to something that is not stable or calm.

• She felt unsettled by the sudden change in plans.
• The weather remains unsettled.

Use when something or someone is wandering aimlessly, often floating without control. It often has a connotation of being lost or lacking direction.

• The boat was adrift on the open sea
• After losing his job, he felt adrift in life

Use when something is resting or moving gently on the surface of a liquid, typically water. It can also metaphorically describe something that is not fixed or stable in a non-negative way.

• The leaves were floating on the surface of the pond
• There were rumors floating around the office

Use when something is released from its moorings, literally or figuratively. It often suggests a sense of disconnection or not being tied down, and can imply a sense of instability or vulnerability.

• The ship was unmoored and began to drift
• He felt unmoored after the sudden changes in his life

Use for situations where something is physically or metaphorically not secured or fixed in place, often implying a lack of stability or security.

• The boat was unanchored and drifting away
• After moving to a new city, she felt unanchored and unsettled

Use this term when something or someone is lacking direction or is aimlessly wandering, often in a literal or figurative sense.

• After losing his job, he felt completely adrift
• The boat was cut loose and drifted adrift in the open sea

This phrase is best used to describe a situation where something is no longer on its planned or intended path, often used in navigational contexts.

• The pilot noticed the plane was slightly off course
• His life seemed to be going off course after the unexpected setbacks

Use this phrase when something is not following the intended plan or is deviating from the expected path. It is commonly used in both literal and figurative contexts.

• Their project is going off track due to poor planning
• He got off track during his presentation and lost his audience

This phrase is used to describe a situation or behavior that is wildly unmanageable or chaotic. It has a negative connotation.

• The fire quickly spread and became out of control
• His anger issues are getting out of control