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

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

From BBC

Rival Lando Norris of McLaren had a difficult race, finishing sixth after a couple of key errors, to fall 62 points adrift off Verstappen with 86 still available in the final three races.

From BBC

The hosts had been on the back foot in the first half, fortunate to only be two points adrift as Marcus Smith's boot repaired some of the damage from Tele'a and Will Jordan's tries.

From BBC

Payne’s voice — so flexible and powerful within One Direction’s group dynamic — was more adrift as a solo act.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• amiss