adrift
English · Thesaurus
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adrift
- /əˈdɹɪft/ US, UK
Rhymes with -ɪft
Where it comes from
The adverb is derived from a- (prefix meaning ‘at; in; on’ showing conditions, manners, or states) + drift (noun), probably modelled after afloat.
The adjective is probably derived from the adverb, as it is attested later.
adverb more adrift · most adrift
- In or into a drifting condition; moved (especially on water by waves and wind) without being propelled or steered. things wore on till eight or nine o'clock, every thing getting adrift and being smashed, and every one on board jamming themselves up in corners or holding on to beams to prevent their going adrift likewise
- Not in the expected or usual place or position; awry; also, not following the expected or usual course; astray, off course.
- In an unattached or unfastened condition; apart, loose, off.
- Chiefly followed by of: in a position or having a score behind that of another competitor or an opponent.
adjective more adrift · most adrift
- Drifting (especially on water) without being propelled or steered. So on the sea she shall be set adrift.
-
Of a person or group of people: having no aim or direction; aimless, lost.
Near-synonyms: (UK) disorientated, (US) disoriented, floundering, struggling; see also Thesaurus:confused
Similar: directionless, rudderless, disorientated, disoriented, floundering, struggling, addle-pated, addled, addlepated, at a loss, at a loss for words, at sea · Opposite: on course, on target
- Of a sailor: absent without leave or permission.
- Of an object: no longer attached in position; detached, loose, unattached, unfastened; also, lost, missing. Treasury could also ask why High Speed 2's finances are so adrift from what was promised. The answers will make for difficult DfT reading, because it can't escape the fact that it has been the government department overseeing rail spending for the past 20 years.
- In a position or having a score behind that of another competitor or an opponent; below an expected level in terms of some position, score, or target. The team were six points adrift of their rivals.
Thesaurus
Closest in meaning: afloat, drifting, directionless, aimless, purposeless, planless, rudderless, undirected, drift, driftwood, derivation, coaster, stabiliser, lost, vagabond, driftless
Translations
Every language
adv in or into a drifting condition
| Español | a la deriva |
|---|---|
| Português | à deriva |
| Français | à la dérive |
| Deutsch | abtreiben |
| Italiano | alla deriva |
| Română | în derivă |
| Русский | по течению po tečeniju, дрейф drejf |
adj drifting (especially on water) without being propelled or steered
| Español | a la deriva |
|---|---|
| हिन्दी | अपवाहित apvāhit |
| Português | à deriva |
| Français | à la dérive |
| Deutsch | abtreibend |
| Italiano | alla deriva |
| Română | în derivă |
| Русский | дрейфуюший drejfujušij |
Talk about this word "adrift." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/adrift. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. adrift. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/adrift "adrift." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/adrift.Cite this
@misc{adrift_2026,
title = {adrift},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/adrift},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
