drift away
phrasal verb·2 senses·particle away
Meanings
Slip out of awareness slowly
Why “away”? Something slowly becomes weaker until it is gone.
“I drifted away during the lecture.”
“Sam drifted away during the long call.”
Gradually lose contact with a person or group
“Maya drifted away from her school friends after she moved.”
“Omar drifted away from his old team after changing jobs.”
Don't confuse with
Drift away means slip out of awareness slowly. Drift off means gradually fall asleep.
Drift away focuses on one person's contact with others. Drift apart focuses on people becoming less close to each other.
Test yourself
“I drifted away during the lecture.” What does it mean?
Nearby in the meaning map
Sink In connects verbs by particle pattern, contrast pairs, and shared base verbs.
drift apart
A contrast learners often mix up
Of two or more people, slowly become less close to each other
drift off
A contrast learners often mix up
Gradually fall asleep
chip away
Same away pattern: fading
Gradually reduce something a little at a time
die away
Same away pattern: fading
Lose intensity until silent
eat away
Same away pattern: fading
Gradually destroy something by erosion or worry
ebb away
Same away pattern: fading
Gradually weaken or recede
explain away
Same away pattern: fading
Give reasons that make a problem seem less serious
fade away
Same away pattern: fading
Gradually become less visible, audible or strong
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