drift apart
B1 neutral inseparable intransitive
In simple words
When friends or family members slowly stop being close, without any big fight or reason.
Literal meaning: To float or move apart from each other — like two boats drifting away from each other on water.
Meanings
1 B1
idiomatic
neutral
For two or more people to gradually become less close over time, without a specific argument.
"We were best friends in school, but after graduation we just drifted apart."
Grammar: inseparable
2 B1 neutral
For physical objects to gradually move away from each other.
"The two ice floes slowly drifted apart in the warming sea."
Grammar: inseparable
Usage notes
One of the most common and emotionally resonant phrasal verbs in everyday English. Always intransitive. The process is typically slow, natural, and without blame attached. Very common when talking about friendships, couples, or families.
Commonly used with
friends couple family colleagues over time gradually
Forms
Base
drift apart
I/you/we/they
3rd person
drifts apart
he/she/it
Past simple
drifted apart
yesterday
Past participle
drifted apart
have + pp
-ing form
drifting apart
continuous
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