adrift

comparative more adrift · superlative most adrift

1. In or into a drifting condition; moved (especially on water by waves and wind) without being propelled or steered.

   things wore on till eight or nine o'clock, every thing getting adrift and being smashed, and every one on board jamming themselves up in corners or holding on to beams to prevent their going adrift likewise

   1858, John Mullaly, The Laying of the Cable, Or the Ocean Telegraph, page 231

2. figurativelyNot in the expected or usual place or position; awry; also, not following the expected or usual course; astray, off course.
3. figurativelyIn an unattached or unfastened condition; apart, loose, off.
4. figurativelyinformalhobbiesChiefly followed by of: in a position or having a score behind that of another competitor or an opponent.

comparative more adrift · superlative most adrift

1. Drifting (especially on water) without being propelled or steered.

   So on the sea she shall be set adrift.

   1673, John Dryden, Marriage à la mode

2. figurativelyOf a person or group of people: having no aim or direction; aimless, lost.

   Near-synonyms: (UK) disorientated, (US) disoriented, floundering, struggling; see also Thesaurus:confused

   Synonyms: directionless, rudderless, disorientated, disoriented, floundering, struggling, addle-pated, addled · Antonyms: on course, on target

3. figurativelynauticalOf a sailor: absent without leave or permission.
4. figurativelyOf an object: no longer attached in position; detached, loose, unattached, unfastened; also, lost, missing.

   Treasury could also ask why High Speed 2's finances are so adrift from what was promised. The answers will make for difficult DfT reading, because it can't escape the fact that it has been the government department overseeing rail spending for the past 20 years.

   2024 September 4, Philip Haigh, “Can public-private partnerships be made to deliver?”, in RAIL, number 1017, page 53

5. figurativelyinformalhobbiesIn a position or having a score behind that of another competitor or an opponent; below an expected level in terms of some position, score, or target.

   The team were six points adrift of their rivals.

   4 more examples

   The Czech Republic in 1994-95, with a pegged nominal exchange rate and nominal deposit rates of 7 percent, was several percentage points adrift of the interest parity condition.

   1996, David H. Begg, Monetary Policy in Central and Eastern Europe: Lessons After Half a Decade, International Monetary Fund, →ISBN

   He did well, coming second, but Toyota and Mitsubishi were now neck-and-neck, with the Subaru team 38 points adrift of the leaders.

   2006, Brian Long, Subaru Impreza: The Road Car & WRC Story, →ISBN, page 56

   Boro were left needing snookers after a toothless goalless draw with Dead Men Walking Doncaster left them well adrift and fading in the chase for a Championship play-off place.

   2012 April 18, Anthony Vickers, “Boro 0 Doncaster Rovers 0”, in The Evening Gazette (Teesside)

   Brendan Rodgers's team moved into the top 10 in the Premier League table, but they are nine points adrift of West Ham in fourth place, while Arsenal are sixth.

   2014 December 21, Phil McNulty, “Liverpool 2 - 2 Arsenal”, in BBC