adrift

/əˈdrɪft/ (bre, ipa) · [ədrˈɪft] /əˈdrɪft/ (ame, ipa) · [ədrˈɪft] /ə-ˈdrift/ (ame, mw)

adrift — 形容詞

  • adriftpositive
  • more adriftcomparative
  • most adriftsuperlative

1. floating freely on water with no ropes or anchors holding it in place, often bec

1.形容詞B2
釋義

漂流

船隻無人控制而漂在水上

floating freely on water with no ropes or anchors holding it in place, often because of damage or a problem that leaves it uncontrolled.

例句

After the storm, the fishing boat was found adrift near the coast.

暴風雨過後，那艘漁船被發現漂流在海岸附近。

be found adrift + location

The small vessel broke adrift from its mooring during the typhoon.

那艘小船在颱風期間從繫泊處脫落漂流而出。

break adrift from [mooring]

同義詞
  • drifting

    emphasises the movement itself rather than the untethered state

  • loose

    broader meaning; can apply to things on land as well

  • unanchored

    specifically suggests the absence of an anchor; more formal

  • unmoored

    suggests having been deliberately or accidentally released from a mooring

反義詞

文法句型

be adrift

come adrift

set adrift

break adrift

用法筆記

Used predicatively — the adjective almost always follows the noun it describes ('the boat was adrift'), rather than preceding it ('an adrift boat'). Common in set phrases: 'come adrift', 'break adrift'.

常見錯誤

❌The boat adrifts in the sea.
✅The boat is adrift in the sea.
💡'Adrift' is an adjective, not a verb. Use 'to drift' for the verb form.
❌He adrifted on the ocean for days.
✅He drifted on the ocean for days.
💡'Adrift' has no past-tense form because it is not a verb.

2. feeling that one has no clear goal, plan, or meaningful way to live one's life o

2.形容詞B2
釋義

迷失方向

缺乏目標或歸屬感的狀態

feeling that one has no clear goal, plan, or meaningful way to live one's life or spend one's days.

例句

After graduating, Rohan felt adrift and unsure about what career to pursue.

畢業後，Rohan 感到迷失方向，不確定該從事什麼職業。

feel adrift + question clause

The novel tells the story of a young woman adrift in a foreign city with no plans.

這本小說講述一名年輕女子在陌生的城市漂泊、毫無計畫的故事。

同義詞
  • lost

    stronger emotional distress; implies confusion and disorientation

  • directionless

    focuses on the lack of a clear goal; more neutral than 'adrift'

  • aimless

    suggests absence of intent or purpose; similar register

  • rootless

    implies a lack of belonging or connection, not just purpose

反義詞
  • purposeful

    having a clear aim in life

  • grounded

    emotionally stable and connected

  • settled

    having a stable situation and clear direction

文法句型

feel adrift

be adrift

adrift in [place/situation]

用法筆記

Describes an emotional or psychological state, not a physical situation. Subject is usually a person or group of people. Frequently paired with 'feel' or 'be'.

常見錯誤

❌After losing his job, he felt adrift of his life.
✅After losing his job, he felt adrift in life.
💡Use 'in' with a place or situation; never 'of'.
❌The project is adrift because the manager left.
✅The project went adrift because the manager left.
💡For plans and projects, use 'go adrift' (sense 4).

3. no longer properly fixed or fastened in the correct position; having become loos

3.形容詞B2
釋義

鬆脫

從固定位置脫落而鬆動的

no longer properly fixed or fastened in the correct position; having become loose or dislodged from where it should be.

例句

One of the roof tiles came adrift during the typhoon and almost fell off.

其中一片屋頂瓦片在颱風期間鬆脫，差點掉了下來。

come adrift + during [event]

After years of use, the screws on the bookshelf came adrift and the shelf tilted sideways.

使用多年後，書架上的螺絲鬆脫了，層板向一側傾斜。

同義詞
  • loose

    broader; 'adrift' implies something came loose from its proper position

  • detached

    suggests a complete separation rather than just loosening

  • unfastened

    describes the state of not being tied or closed

  • dislodged

    implies something was forced out of its position

反義詞
  • fixed

    properly attached or fastened

  • secure

    firmly in position

  • tight

    firmly fastened so as not to move

文法句型

come adrift

work adrift

be adrift

用法筆記

Always describes a physical object that was once fixed in place and has become loose. Never used for people. The phrase 'come adrift' is the most common pattern.

常見錯誤

❌The picture frame is adrift on the wall.
✅The picture frame is crooked on the wall.
💡'Adrift' suggests something that was fixed has come loose; 'crooked' means tilted or uneven.
❌I feel adrift when my phone battery dies.
✅I feel stranded when my phone battery dies.
💡This sense is for physical objects only, not emotions.

4. describes a plan, project, negotiation, or process that has failed or gone off c

4.形容詞B2
釋義

出錯；失敗

計劃未如預期進行的

describes a plan, project, negotiation, or process that has failed or gone off course and is not producing the intended outcome.

例句

The peace talks went adrift when neither side would compromise on the border.

和平談判因雙方都不願在邊界問題上讓步而宣告失敗。

go adrift + when [clause]

Our travel plans went completely adrift after the airline cancelled all flights.

在航空公司取消所有航班後，我們的旅行計劃完全亂了套。

go completely adrift — intensifier + collocation

同義詞
  • off course

    suggests deviation rather than complete failure

  • unsuccessful

    more general and formal; 'adrift' has a sense of gradual collapse

  • off the rails

    informal; similar meaning to 'adrift' for plans

  • failing

    focuses on the process of failure rather than the state

反義詞

文法句型

go adrift

come adrift

用法筆記

Used almost exclusively with the verbs 'go' or 'come'. Never used for people in this sense — only for abstract things like plans, strategies, talks, or projects. Has a similar meaning to 'go off the rails' but is slightly less informal.

常見錯誤

❌I went adrift when I missed the bus.
✅I was stranded when I missed the bus.
💡'Go adrift' is for complex plans failing, not everyday inconveniences.
❌The meeting went adrift because of rain.
✅The meeting was cancelled because of rain.
💡'Go adrift' implies a gradual failure rather than a cancellation.

adrift — 副詞