How to Pronounce Drift

To pronounce "drift", say DRIFT — one syllable, IPA /dɹɪft/. Tap play below to hear it in four English accents, or practice it syllable by syllable.

drift

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Accent

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Speed

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1

Syllable

5

Letters

/dɹɪft/

IPA

💡 Tip for remembering “drift”

"drift" is a single-syllable word — say it in one clean beat. It rhymes with shift and miffed, if that helps it stick.

What does drift mean?

noun

  1. (physical) Movement; that which moves or is moved.
  2. The act or motion of drifting; the force which impels or drives; an overpowering influence or impulse.

verb

  1. To move slowly, especially pushed by currents of water, air, etc.

    “The balloon was drifting in the breeze.”

  2. To move haphazardly without any destination.

    “He drifted from town to town, never settling down.”

Hear “drift” in real sentences

Real example sentences from Tatoeba (CC-BY) — tap to hear each one, or see it used on YouGlish.

Words that rhyme with drift

Practicing rhymes trains the same ending sounds.

shiftmiffedriftliftswiftadriftgiftmakeshiftshriftsiftclifttift

Related words

rovewaftfreewheelrangeramblecastblowfloat

Frequently asked questions

How many syllables are in "drift"?▾

"Drift" has one syllable.

What is the IPA transcription of "drift"?▾

The IPA transcription of "drift" is /dɹɪft/.

What does "drift" mean?▾

Drift: (physical) Movement; that which moves or is moved.

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