drift across

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "drift across" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
It means to gradually and lightly move or be carried across something. For example: - The leaves from the tree drifted across the lawn, carried by the gentle breeze. - As I gazed out the window, my thoughts began to drift across my mind like clouds in the sky. - The soft music drifted across the room, creating a peaceful atmosphere. - The smell of freshly baked bread drifted across the street, tempting passersby. - The news of the tragedy caused a sense of shock and sadness to drift across the community.

✓ Grammatically correct

Birds, mists and bodhisattvas drift across skies.

Wacky graphics drift across archival images and sometimes deface them.

Most of his ideas drift across the Atlantic from Harvard.

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Margins drift across the page.

The Guardian - Books

Birds, mists and bodhisattvas drift across skies.

The New York Times - Arts

Wacky graphics drift across archival images and sometimes deface them.

The New York Times - Arts

Most of his ideas drift across the Atlantic from Harvard.

The Economist

The neurasthenic glamour girls who drift across the stage don't have much to say for themselves.

The New York Times

Soon, the Fremantle Doctor will no longer drift across Test match cricket.

The Guardian - Sport

Bono, Hozier, the Script – all allow their accents to drift across the Atlantic.

The Guardian - Music

But with 2016 and its strangest of political events, such visions might drift across our consciousness.

The Guardian

"Your reaction times are 50% slower and you are more likely to drift across lanes.

Independent

Answers drift across the woods and salt marshes in John Casey's beautiful, elegiac new novel.

The New York Times - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

It drifts across by itself Below me.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "drift across" to describe gentle, unhurried movement over a surface or area, particularly when the subject is carried by an external force like wind or current.

Common error

Avoid using "drift across" to describe actions that are forceful or fast. For example, say "the storm swept across the plains" rather than "drifted across" as "drift across" implies a slow, gentle motion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "drift across" functions as a verb phrase, typically used to describe the manner in which something moves gently and passively over a surface or area. Ludwig examples show its use with subjects like "clouds", "ideas", and "sounds".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Science

8%

Academia

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "drift across" is a grammatically correct verb phrase used to describe a gentle, passive movement over a surface. As Ludwig AI explains, it implies a gradual and unhurried motion, suitable for evoking a sense of calmness. It's most frequently found in News & Media contexts, with authoritative sources like The Guardian and The New York Times using it often. While versatile, it's important to avoid using "drift across" when describing forceful or rapid actions. Semantically related alternatives include "move across" and "spread over", each with slightly different nuances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

move across

A more general and less evocative way of expressing the same idea.

spread over

Focuses on the extent of coverage rather than the manner of movement.

extend across

Emphasizes the physical reach from one point to another.

pass over

Highlights the action of going beyond or above something.

sweep over

Implies a more forceful and rapid movement.

flow over

Suggests a liquid or continuous motion.

glide over

Conveys a smooth and effortless movement.

traverse

Implies a more active and deliberate crossing.

waft through

Suggests a light and airy movement, often of scents or sounds.

pervade

Emphasizes the thoroughness and completeness of the spreading.

FAQs

How can I use "drift across" in a sentence?

You can use "drift across" to describe the gentle movement of something over a surface, like "Clouds "drift across" the sky" or "Smoke "drift across" the valley".

What's a good alternative to "drift across"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "move across", "pass over", or "spread over" as alternatives to "drift across".

Is it correct to say "drifted across"?

Yes, "drifted across" is the past tense of "drift across" and is grammatically correct. For example: "The leaves "drifted across" the yard".

What is the difference between "drift across" and "move across"?

"Drift across" suggests a slow, gentle, and often unintentional movement, whereas "move across" is a more general term that can describe any kind of movement from one side to the other.