Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense wafts, present participle wafting, past tense, past participle wafted
verb
If sounds or smells waft through the air, or if something such as a light wind wafts them, they move gently through the air.
The scent of climbing roses wafts through the window. [VERB preposition/adverb]
The music from the party wafts out to the terrace. [VERB preposition/adverb]
A slight breeze rose, wafting the heavy scent of flowers past her. [VERB noun preposition/adverb]
Synonyms: transport, bring, carry, bear More Synonyms of waft
Waft is also a noun.
A waft of perfume drifted into Ingrid's nostrils. [+ of]
More Synonyms of waft
waft in British English
(wɑːft, wɒft)
verb
1.
to carry or be carried gently on or as if on the air or water
noun
2.
the act or an instance of wafting
3.
something, such as a scent, carried on the air
4.
a wafting motion
5. Also called: waif nautical
(formerly) a signal flag hoisted furled to signify various messages depending on where it was flown
Derived forms
waftage (ˈwaftage)
noun
Word origin
C16 (in obsolete sense: to convey by ship): back formation from C15 wafter a convoy vessel, from Middle Dutch wachter guard, from wachten to guard; influenced by waff
waft in American English
(wɑft; wæft)
verb transitive
1.
a.
to carry or propel (objects, sounds, odors, etc.) lightly through the air or over water
b.
to transport as if in this manner
2. Obsolete
to beckon or signal to, as by a wave of the hand
verb intransitive
3.
to float, as on the wind
4.
to blow gently
said of breezes
noun
5.
the act or fact of floating or being carried lightly along
6.
an odor, sound, etc. carried through the air
7.
a breath or gust of wind
8.
a wave, waving, or wafting movement
9. Nautical; Rare
a signal flag or pennant, or a signal made by a flag or pennant, usually rolled or furled
Word origin
back-form. < obs. wafter, convoy < LME waughter < Du wachter, lit., a watcher < wachten, to watch: for IE base see wake1; (sense 2) altered < waff1
Examples of 'waft' in a sentence
waft
Candles No hygge environment would be complete without the wafts of scented candles in your welcoming home.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
She looks like many of the other fashionistas wafting around the building and is strikinglypretty.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
It will be far less easy to waft away a nicotine addiction.
The Sun (2014)
The swarm followed him like a trail of smoke or a veil wafting in the breeze.
Aidan Hartley THE ZANZIBAR CHEST: A Memoir of Love and War (2003)
It is not unknown for the strains of classical music to waft across the court.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Some fresh air has wafted through this milieu in recent months.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
You sit outside in a courtyard full of lemon trees with the scent of jasmine wafting over.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
He used to sort of waft around and had this grin on his face.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Cars flew the national flag as music wafted from hundreds of parties around the city.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
One hears the disheartening sound of doors closing and catches a waft of stale air.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
This meant the scent would waft through the room only when the light was on.
Kiam, Victor Going For It!: How to Succeed As an Entrepreneur (1986)
The staff wafted around; their only concern was my welfare.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
What's that scent wafting above the swimming pool?
The Sun (2014)
I sank into it and smelt the stale air wafting up from the sheet.
The Sun (2013)
When you enter a room, the trees and lakes on the walls appear to be wafting in a breeze.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
All the lights on, the sound of flirtatious laughter and silly pop songs and the wafting scent of tomato and garlic.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
A waft of air wouldn't work in this weather.
The Sun (2013)
Flying over Edinburgh, they miraculously hear the sound of wafting bagpipes.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Finally, you're going to need some pretty slippers for wafting about the honeymoon suite.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Much of this month's heat has come from high pressure wafting in warm breezes from Europe.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Which means you'd be wafting around in something that's older than me.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
What's an English summer without lazy days on a lawn with the gentle sound of cricket commentary wafting on the breeze?
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
His harmonies waft a pungent perfume all their own, and invite you into an imaginative, mercurial world unique in music history.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
In other languages
waft
British English: waft VERB
If sounds or smells waft through the air, or if something such as a light wind wafts them, they move gently through the air.
The scent of climbing roses wafts through the window.
American English: waft
Brazilian Portuguese: levar
Chinese: 随风飘荡
European Spanish: flotar
French: flotter
German: wehen
Italian: diffondersi
Japanese: 漂わせる/漂う
Korean: 대기에 퍼지다
European Portuguese: levar
Latin American Spanish: flotar
1 (verb)
Definition
to move gently through the air as if being carried by the wind
The scent of roses wafted through the open window.
Synonyms
drift
We proceeded to drift along the river.
float
barges floating quietly by the grassy river banks
be carried
be transported
coast
I slipped into neutral gear and coasted down the slope.
flow
stray
She could not keep her eyes from straying towards him.
glide
be borne
be conveyed
2 (verb)
A slight breeze wafted the heavy scent of flowers past her.
Synonyms
transport
There's no petrol so it's difficult to transport goods.
bring
My father brought home a book for me.
carry
He carried the plate through to the dining room.
bear
a surveyor and his assistant bearing a torch
guide
She took the bewildered man by the arm and guided him out.
conduct
Water conducts heat faster than air.
transmit
mosquitoes that transmit disease to humans
convey
They borrowed our boats to convey themselves across the river.
(noun)
Definition
a scent carried on the air
A waft of perfume reached Ingrid's nostrils.
Synonyms
current
I felt a current of cool air blowing in my face.
breath
Not even a breath of wind stirred the pine branches.
puff
an occasional puff of air stirring the brittle leaves
whiff
At the first whiff of smoke, the alarm will go off.
draught
Block draughts around doors and windows.
breeze
a cool summer breeze
Additional synonyms
in the sense of bear
Definition
to bring
a surveyor and his assistant bearing a torch
Synonyms
carry,
take,
move,
bring,
lift,
transfer,
conduct,
transport,
haul,
transmit,
convey,
relay,
tote (informal),
hump (British, slang),
lug
in the sense of breath
Definition
to impart
Not even a breath of wind stirred the pine branches.
Synonyms
gust,
sigh,
puff,
flutter,
flurry,
whiff,
draught,
waft,
zephyr,
slight movement,
faint breeze
in the sense of breeze
Definition
a gentle or light wind
a cool summer breeze
Synonyms
light wind,
air,
whiff,
draught,
gust,
waft,
zephyr,
breath of wind,
current of air,
puff of air,
capful of wind
Nearby words of
waft
wade into something
wade through something
waffle
waft
wag
wage
wager
Synonyms of 'waft'
waft
Explore 'waft' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of bring
Definition
to carry, convey, or take (something or someone) to a designated place or person
My father brought home a book for me.
Synonyms
fetch,
take,
carry,
bear,
transfer,
deliver,
transport,
import,
convey
in the sense of carry
Definition
to take from one place to another
He carried the plate through to the dining room.
Synonyms
convey,
take,
move,
bring,
bear,
lift,
transfer,
conduct,
transport,
haul,
transmit,
fetch,
relay,
cart,
tote (informal),
hump (British, slang),
lug
in the sense of coast
I slipped into neutral gear and coasted down the slope.
Synonyms
cruise,
sail,
drift,
taxi,
glide,
freewheel
in the sense of conduct
Definition
to transmit (heat or electricity)
Water conducts heat faster than air.
Synonyms
transmit,
carry,
spread,
pass on,
convey,
diffuse,
impart
in the sense of convey
Definition
to carry or transport from one place to another
They borrowed our boats to convey themselves across the river.
Synonyms
carry,
transport,
move,
bring,
support,
bear,
conduct,
transmit,
fetch
in the sense of draught
Definition
a current of cold air, usually one coming into a room or vehicle
Block draughts around doors and windows.
Synonyms
breeze,
current,
wind,
movement,
flow,
puff,
influx,
gust,
current of air
in the sense of float
Definition
to move lightly or freely across a surface or through air or water
barges floating quietly by the grassy river banks
Synonyms
glide,
sail,
drift,
move gently,
bob,
coast,
slide,
be carried,
slip along
in the sense of guide
Definition
to lead the way for (tourists or travellers)
She took the bewildered man by the arm and guided him out.
Synonyms
lead,
direct,
escort,
conduct,
pilot,
accompany,
steer,
shepherd,
convoy,
usher,
show the way
in the sense of puff
Definition
the amount of wind or smoke released in a puff
an occasional puff of air stirring the brittle leaves
Synonyms
blast,
breath,
flurry,
whiff,
draught,
gust,
emanation
in the sense of stray
Definition
to wander away from the correct path or from a given area
She could not keep her eyes from straying towards him.
Synonyms
drift,
wander,
roam,
meander,
rove,
stra
Additional synonyms
in the sense of transmit
Definition
to pass (something, such as a message or disease) from one place or person to another
mosquitoes that transmit disease to humans
Synonyms
pass on,
carry,
spread,
communicate,
take,
send,
forward,
bear,
transfer,
transport,
hand on,
convey,
dispatch,
hand down,
diffuse,
remit,
impart,
disseminate
in the sense of whiff
Definition
a passing odour
At the first whiff of smoke, the alarm will go off.