What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
drift
Example
The boat began to drift aimlessly in the open sea. [drift: verb]
Example
I noticed a drift in his tone towards a more positive outlook. [drift: noun]
float
Example
The leaves floated down the river, carried by the current. [float: verb]
Example
The balloon was filled with helium and began to float upwards. [float: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Float is more commonly used than drift in everyday language. Float is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while drift is less common and often used in specific contexts such as water or air currents.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between drift and float?
Both drift and float can be used in formal and informal contexts, but float may be more commonly used in technical or scientific contexts due to its association with buoyancy and fluid dynamics.
