Adrift Meaning
/əˈdɹɪft/Definition, CEFR level C2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
adjFloating at random.
adjAbsent from his watch.
Sentence Examples
The mast broke and our ship went adrift.
When we awoke, we were adrift on the open sea.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Antonyms:
CEFR Practice Quiz
After the storm broke the mooring lines, the small boat was left ____ in the open sea.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The small boat was left ____ on the ocean after the engine failed.
Word Origin & History
Etymology tree English a- English drift English adrift From a- + drift.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"So on the sea she shall be set adrift."
— 1673, John Dryden, Marriage à la mode:
"The Czech Republic in 1994-95, with a pegged nominal exchange rate and nominal deposit rates of 7 percent, was several percentage points adrift of the interest parity condition."
— 1996, David H. Begg, Monetary Policy in Central and Eastern Europe: Lessons After Half a Decade, International Monetary Fund, →ISBN:
"He did well, coming second, but Toyota and Mitsubishi were now neck-and-neck, with the Subaru team 38 points adrift of the leaders."
— 2006, Brian Long, Subaru Impreza: The Road Car & WRC Story, →ISBN, page 56:
"Boro were left needing snookers after a toothless goalless draw with Dead Men Walking Doncaster left them well adrift and fading in the chase for a Championship play-off place."
— 2012 April 18, Anthony Vickers, “Boro 0 Doncaster Rovers 0”, in The Evening Gazette (Teesside):
"Brendan Rodgers's team moved into the top 10 in the Premier League table, but they are nine points adrift of West Ham in fourth place, while Arsenal are sixth."
— 2014 December 21, Phil McNulty, “Liverpool 2 - 2 Arsenal”, in BBC:
Explore More C2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
After the storm broke the mooring lines, the small boat was left ____ in the open sea.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The small boat was left ____ on the ocean after the engine failed.