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adrift — floating without being steered or controlled; lacking purpose or direction

Part of speech: ADJECTIVE

Definition: floating without being steered or controlled; lacking purpose or direction

Pronunciation (IPA): /əˈdrɪft/

Example Sentences

  • After graduation, he felt completely adrift without a clear career plan.
  • The inflatable unicorn was adrift in the pool while everyone was having lunch.
  • My attention span goes adrift whenever math class starts.

adrift

ADJECTIVE

[/əˈdrɪft/]

floating without being steered or controlled; lacking purpose or direction

The small boat floats adrift on the open sea after losing its oars.
💡 Concept

The small boat floats adrift on the open sea after losing its oars.

Adrift and slow, then swift winds blow!
🎵 Rhyme

Adrift and slow, then swift winds blow!

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🎤Pronunciation

🇺🇸 US/əˈdrɪft/
🇬🇧 UK/əˈdrɪft/

🌳Etymology

Prefixa--
Rootdrift

Origin

From Old Norse 'á drifti' meaning 'on drift' or 'in a drifting state.' The prefix 'a-' comes from Old English meaning 'in a state of,' combined with 'drift' from Norse 'drift' meaning 'something driven or floating.'

Breakdown

a- (in a state of) + drift (floating without control) = adrift (floating without being steered)

🎵Rhyme

drift
shift
lift
gift
swift

🔗Collocations

set adrift
go adrift
cast adrift
come adrift
feel adrift

📝Examples

“After graduation, he felt completely adrift without a clear career plan.”

😄 Fun example

“The inflatable unicorn was adrift in the pool while everyone was having lunch.”

😄 Fun example

“My attention span goes adrift whenever math class starts.”

“The company was adrift without proper leadership during the crisis.”

📚Related Words

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