adrift
adverb · adjective
Simple meaning
In a drifting condition.
Pronunciation
Say it like this:
uhdriftSay the bold part a little louder.
IPA pronunciation (US)
ədˈɹɪft
This word is pronounced essentially the same in American and British English, so one transcription covers both.
IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) is a standard way of writing speech sounds.
Definition
Everyday modern meanings first, grouped by part of speech.
adverb
In a drifting condition; at the mercy of wind and waves.
adjective
Floating at random.
of a seaman
Absent from his watch.
Word at a Glance
- Difficulty
- C2 · Proficient (estimated)
- Frequency
- Uncommon
- Typical Use
- Primarily written
Word Aura™
How this word commonly comes across.
Word Aura is being prepared for this meaning.
More ways to use adrift
- “There was a search for beauty that had somehow gone adrift.”adverb
- “The boat was set adrift.”adverb
Share your sentence
Word Family
Related forms, grouped by how they connect.
Compound terms
Established multiword terms.
Be in motion due to some air or water current.
More about this wordSynonyms, forms, origin
Synonyms
Sense: floating at random
Use This Word
See how this word sounds in a real sentence.
Ask Vocabaura
Understand the word your way.
What Does It Mean Here?
Words can change meaning depending on context.
Use it yourself
Keep learning “adrift” by choosing the kind of practice you need next.
- Practice sentence writingWrite sentences with vocabulary and get instant feedback.
- Practice in contextAnswer short vocabulary questions drawn from real situations.
- Review vocabularyTest your recall and strengthen words over time.
- Practice typingType vocabulary in short rounds that draw from words you've learned and saved.
Want to type words like this one without looking at the keyboard? Each typing round draws from words you've learned, saved or need to review. Follow the free Learn to Type lessons and type your own vocabulary with confidence.
Dictionary data from Wiktionary via the Free Dictionary API. Simple meanings, combinations and word intelligence are built from verified reference data, no AI is used to load this page.