Adrift

Pronunciation

• enPR: É™-drÄ­ft', IPA: /əˈdrɪft/
• Rhymes: -ɪft

Origin

Prefix a- (for on) + drift.

Full definition of adrift

Adjective

1. Floating at random.So on the sea shall be set adrift. --Dryden.
2. (of a seaman) Absent from his watch.
3. (chiefly UK, often with of) Behind one's opponents, or below a required threshold in terms of score, number or position.
   The team were six points adrift of their rivals.
• 1996, David H. Begg, Monetary Policy in Central and Eastern Europe: Lessons After Half a Decade, 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.
• 2006, Brian Long, Subaru Impreza: The Road Car & WRC Story, He did well, coming second, but Toyota and Mitsubishi were now neck-and-neck, with the Subaru team 38 points adrift of the leaders.
• 2012, April 18, Anthony Vickers, Boro 0 Doncaster Rovers 0, 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.

Adverb

1. In a drifting condition; at the mercy of wind and waves.

Related terms

• cast adrift