Phrase guide

drift apart

verb · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

verb

Meaning 1

To lose contact, to lose one's friendship or closeness.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, intransitive

Examples

  • We used to be good friends but we drifted apart over the years.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

lose personal contact over time

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • The two women, who had been roommates in college, drifted apart after they got married

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: drift away

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: estrange, alienate, alien, disaffect

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

13 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 疏遠 /疏远 (shūyuǎn) — to lose contact, to lose one's friendship or closeness
  • Chinese Mandarin: 生疏 (shēngshū) — to lose contact, to lose one's friendship or closeness
  • Finnish: ajautua erilleen — to lose contact, to lose one's friendship or closeness
  • French: se perdre de vue — to lose contact, to lose one's friendship or closeness
  • Hungarian: eltávolodik — to lose contact, to lose one's friendship or closeness
  • Italian: perdersi di vista — to lose contact, to lose one's friendship or closeness
  • Polish: oddalać się od siebie — to lose contact, to lose one's friendship or closeness
  • Polish: oddalić się od siebie — to lose contact, to lose one's friendship or closeness
  • Russian: отдаля́ться (otdaljátʹsja) — to lose contact, to lose one's friendship or closeness
  • Russian: отдали́ться (otdalítʹsja) — to lose contact, to lose one's friendship or closeness
  • Russian: расходи́ться (rasxodítʹsja) — to lose contact, to lose one's friendship or closeness
  • Russian: разойти́сь (razojtísʹ) — to lose contact, to lose one's friendship or closeness
  • Spanish: distanciarse — to lose contact, to lose one's friendship or closeness