waft

1 of 2

verb

ˈwäft  ˈwaft 

wafted; wafting; wafts

intransitive verb

: to move or go lightly on or as if on a buoyant medium

heavenly aromas wafted from the kitchen

transitive verb

: to cause to move or go lightly by or as if by the impulse of wind or waves

wafter noun

waft

2 of 2

noun

1

: something (such as an odor) that is wafted : whiff

2

: a slight breeze : puff

3

: the act of waving

4

: a pennant or flag used to signal or to show wind direction

Synonyms

Verb

• drift
• float
• glide
• hang
• hover
• poise
• ride
• sail
• swim

Noun

• air
• breath
• breeze
• puff
• zephyr

Examples of waft in a Sentence

Verb

The smell of chicken soup wafted up to my bedroom.

The sound of music wafted softly into the yard from our neighbor's house.

A breeze wafted the scent of roses towards our table.

Noun

wafts carrying the scent of spring flowers

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

The smoke from brush fires around Salem wafted over Boston on Monday, puzzling residents who got no indication of it from air quality readings on their phones. —Steph Solis, Axios, 28 Oct. 2024

Morning smells will waft through the air, the rich aroma of coffee, fresh bursts of perfume, the sweet mist of sunscreen. —Lizz Schumer, People.com, 15 Oct. 2024

Noun

Enter any home in Oman, however small, and you will be welcomed with wafts of frankincense scenting the air, followed by a cup of sweet Arabic coffee and an offering of succulent dates. —Angelina Villa-Clarke, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024

Spritz it in the morning and prepare for subtle, spa-like wafts of forest floor throughout the day. —Jenny Berg, Vogue, 21 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, perhaps from past participle of Middle English (northern dialect) waffen, by-form of Middle English waven to wave

First Known Use

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Noun

1607, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

waft

1 of 2 verb

ˈwäft  ˈwaft 

: to move or be moved lightly by or as if by the action of wind or waves

waft

2 of 2 noun

: a slight breeze : puff