waft 1 of 2

Definition of waftnext
as in to hover
to rest or move along the surface of a liquid or in the air a feather wafted past us and settled on the grass

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of waft
Noun
The Source also obtained a copy of a snarky complaint one of its guests lodged with state investigators after watching dust plumes waft from Mountain Cement to his room. Justin Wingerter, Denver Post, 18 Feb. 2026 Losing the Great Salt Lake would therefore have dire economic consequences for the region, in addition to health threats as dust laden with heavy metals wafts off the lake bed and into neighborhoods. Evan Bush, NBC news, 7 Mar. 2026
Verb
The intermingling smells of sizzling hot dogs, urine and marijuana wafted through the open windows. Los Angeles Times, 22 June 2026 Something soured Monday night at Madison Square Garden and the stench of spoilt optimism wafted into Wednesday. Hannah Keyser, CNN Money, 11 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for waft
Recent Examples of Synonyms for waft
Noun
  • Its compact size and functional interior and exterior pockets will make zipping through airport security or stopping for gas on road trips a breeze — no more digging through disorganized totes to locate your wallet and phone.
    Averi Baudler, PEOPLE, 1 July 2026
  • Simply plant the lightweight poles in the sand, face it into the breeze, and let the wind do the rest.
    Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 30 June 2026
Verb
  • Dark clouds hovered around the stadium just before kickoff, threatening to delay the start of the game, but Mother Nature apparently is a soccer fan, because the storm veered away.
    Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 4 July 2026
  • Temperatures in the beach cities pleasantly hovered in the 70s, a stark contrast to East Coast communities broiling in a heat wave.
    Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 4 July 2026
Noun
  • If the accretion disk puffs up in just the right way, the incoming gas can overwhelm the radiation pressure.
    Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 2 July 2026
  • Turned on a recorder, took a puff, started playing some jazz.
    Mikael Wood, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026
Verb
  • Facing no one but the goalkeeper, Moshobane sailed an uncontested shot from 18 yards over the top of the net.
    Idaho Statesman, Idaho Statesman, 3 July 2026
  • The ship was sailing an Alaska and Canada voyage round-trip from San Francisco, according to CruiseMapper.
    Nathan Diller, USA Today, 2 July 2026
Noun
  • The head may be turned, a breath taken in a conscious way, or not.
    Padgett Powell, Harpers Magazine, 30 June 2026
  • Fans hold their breath and hope for Messi to score every time that Argentina plays, but this team is loaded with talent.
    Kellis Robinett, Kansas City Star, 30 June 2026
Verb
  • By tying ticket access to listening behavior rather than open on-sales or presale codes floating on secondary marketplaces, Spotify is testing whether platform data can succeed where CAPTCHAs and queue systems have struggled.
    Lauren Schuster, Sacbee.com, 6 July 2026
  • Monitor Temperature and Water Quality A floating pool thermometer—available for around $10—tells you if your pond is getting too hot.
    Anne Readel, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 July 2026
Verb
  • Yamal was a thorn in Saudi Arabia’s side, drifting infield to unleash shots from distance but also peppering the penalty area with wicked deliveries from the right flank.
    Mark Carey, New York Times, 2 July 2026
  • When those models drift or their assumptions fail, errors can scale rapidly.
    Akhilesh Sharma, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
Verb
  • The incident occurred when Clark and her colleagues took a break to swim in the Econlockhatchee River near the Barr Street trailhead, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
    Andrea Flores, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
  • It is considered unsafe to swim in the rivers for at least 48 hours after a storm.
    Finch Walker, USA Today, 5 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Waft.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/waft. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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