adrift

[ uh-drift ]

adjective

1. floating without control; drifting; not anchored or moored:

   The survivors were adrift in the rowboat for three days.

2. lacking aim, direction, or stability.

adrift

/ əˈdrɪft /

adjective

1. floating without steering or mooring; drifting
2. without purpose; aimless
3. informal.
   off course or amiss

   the project went adrift

Word History and Origins

Origin of adrift¹

First recorded in 1615–25; a- ¹ + drift

Example Sentences

He and Evans never find their groove, and while Evans’ Boston-accented deadbeat cad routine is rote for him at this point, Johnson feels adrift, never locking in to a specific tone.

From Los Angeles Times

Scherzinger’s Norma, doused in blood and adrift in madness, is treated as though she were a composite of Blanche DuBois, Medea and Sissy Spacek’s Carrie.

From Los Angeles Times

A search was launched after a ferry said it had seen a body adrift off the coast of Calais.

From BBC

Local maritime officials also reported that two bodies had been found adrift off the city's coast.

From BBC

He talked to men who are frustrated and men who are adrift, many who feel—in spite of all evidence—mistreated and even discriminated against.

From Slate

Related Words

• amiss