How to pronounce adrift
Say it like uh-DRIFT. Adrift has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (DRIFT).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce adrift. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- uh
- DRIFT
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Adrift pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- DRIFTSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of adrift
American and British speakers say adrift in essentially the same way: /əˈdrɪft/ in the US and /əˈdrɪft/ in the UK.
British respelling: uh-DRIFT.
What does adrift mean?
- Floating at random.
- Absent from his watch.
- 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.”
- In a drifting condition; at the mercy of wind and waves.
Where does adrift come from?
From a- + drift.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with adrift
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of adrift.
Questions about saying adrift
How do you pronounce adrift?
Say uh-DRIFT. The American pronunciation is /əˈdrɪft/. In British English it is /əˈdrɪft/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in adrift?
Adrift has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (DRIFT). Broken into parts: uh · DRIFT.
Do Americans and Brits say adrift the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /əˈdrɪft/ and the British form is /əˈdrɪft/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.