drift off

phrasal-verb
UK: /drɪft ɒf/
US: /drɪft ɔːf/

  1. To gradually fall asleep.

    1. I often drift off while watching TV after dinner.
    2. The lecturer was so boring that half the students drifted off during the presentation.

  2. To move slowly and without control in a particular direction because of wind or current.

    1. The boat might drift off if you don't tie it properly.
    2. Without anyone steering, the balloon began to drift off towards the mountains.

  3. To gradually move away from the main subject when talking or writing.

    1. Sometimes I drift off when I am trying to tell a story.
    2. The conversation started about gardening but soon drifted off into politics.

Synonyms

fall asleep doze off nod off wander stray veer

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "drift off" in English means: To gradually fall asleep., To move slowly and without control in a particular direction because of wind or current., To gradually move away from the main subject when talking or writing..

The phonetic transcription of "drift off" is /drɪft ɒf/ in British English and /drɪft ɔːf/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "drift off": fall asleep, doze off, nod off, wander, stray, veer.

Example usage of "drift off": "I often drift off while watching TV after dinner.". More examples on the page.