drifting

1. 1
   verb

   Present participle and gerund of drift. Use this form for something happening now or as the name of the action.

   The empty canoe was drifting toward the waterfall.

   Drifting in and out of sleep, he barely heard the alarm.

   Note
2. 2
   adjective

   Moving with no aim, pushed along by wind, water, or other forces.

   Like a leaf floating on a stream, going wherever the water takes it.

   The drifting boat had no one aboard.

   We watched the drifting clouds slowly change shape.

   Similarfloating, aimless, rudderless, unmoored

   Oppositeanchored

3. 3
   adjective

   Having no clear plan, goal, or sense of direction.

   Like a boat with no one steering it, moving but heading nowhere.

   His drifting thoughts kept him from finishing the work.

   The drifting conversation never reached a real point.

   Similaraimless, directionless, rudderless, unfocused, purposeless

   Oppositefocused, purposeful, directed

   Note
4. 4
   noununcountable

   A way of driving where the car's back wheels slide sideways through a turn while the driver keeps control.

   Like sliding sideways around a corner on purpose but still steering where you want to go.

   He learned drifting at the racetrack last summer.

   Drifting takes a lot of skill and practice.

   Note
5. 5
   noununcountable

   The slow movement of something carried along by wind, water, or another force.

   Like the way a balloon slowly floats away once you let go of the string.

   The slow drifting of the boat worried the sailors.

   We noticed the drifting of the smoke across the field.

   Similarmovement, motion

   Note
6. 6
   noununcountable

   Things, like snow or wood, that are carried and gathered by wind or water.

   Like the leaves and twigs that float together down a stream.

   The drifting on the river was mostly broken branches and leaves.

   After the storm, the drifting along the shore was full of seaweed.

   Similardebris

   Note

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