Skip to content

abdriften

to drift off course, to veer away

verb AP-drif-ten Rare
Travel & Places Movement

Origin: from Low German/Dutch drift

Also means

to drift (figurative, lose focus)

Usage Note

abdriften describes gradual, unintended lateral movement away from the intended direction — used for ships, aircraft, vehicles, and in a figurative sense for conversations or people's attention: das Schiff driftete vom Kurs ab (the ship drifted off course).

Examples

"Das Boot driftete in der Strömung von der Küste ab."

Natural Translation

The boat drifted away from the coast in the current.

Literal Translation

The boat drifted in the current from the coast away.

Explore German by topic