waft

[ waft, wahft ]

/ wæft, wɑft /

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See synonyms for: waft / wafted / wafting on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)

to carry lightly and smoothly through the air or over water: The gentle breeze wafted the sound of music to our ears.

to send or convey lightly, as if in flight: The actress wafted kisses to her admirers in the audience.

Obsolete. to signal to, summon, or direct by waving.

verb (used without object)

to float or be carried, especially through the air: The sound wafted on the breeze. The music wafted across the lake.

noun

a sound, odor, etc., faintly perceived: a waft of perfume.

a wafting movement; light current or gust: a waft of air.

the act of wafting.

Also waif. Nautical. a signal given by waving a flag.

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Origin of waft

1535–45; back formation from late Middle English waughter armed escort vessel <Dutch or Low German wachter watchman; in some senses confused with waff

OTHER WORDS FROM waft

wafter, nounun·waft·ed, adjective

Words nearby waft

waffle slab, wafflestompers, waffle weave, W. Afr., WAFS, waft, waftage, wafter, wafture, wag, wage

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use waft in a sentence

In dark pockets of the universe, molecular clouds full of tiny dust particles host a veritable smorgasbord of odors, from wafts of sweet sugar to the rotten-egg stench of sulfur.
What does space smell like?|Lizzie Schiffman|September 28, 2021|Popular-Science
He caught a waft of methane and spotted a pile of corroded metal surrounding a hole that had once been an active well.
Capping methane-spewing oil wells, one hole at a time|Nick Ehli|July 1, 2021|Washington Post
“At least it keeps the mosquitoes away,” one of my table-mates said, as we watched the swooshes of smoke waft into the Havana sky.
Canada ♥ Cuba Just Got Complicated|Shinan Govani|December 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The smells waft through the shantytown of tents and tires known as the Maidan, the main square in Kiev.
My Walk Through Kiev's Maidan Square|Miranda Frum|April 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST

The film is an amiable but formless waft through a 1950s British film set.
Good Actors, Bad Movies, and the Oscars|Richard Rushfield|November 29, 2011|DAILY BEAST
Bewitching scents waft from a stone vessel holding multicolored powders, herbs and seeds.
A Superstar Chef Does the Unthinkable|Amelia Smith|November 17, 2008|DAILY BEAST
It needed only an exertion of will for the soul to hurl the body ashore as wind drives paper; to waft it kite-fashion to the bank.
Kipling Stories and Poems Every Child Should Know, Book II|Rudyard Kipling
It sufficed, however, to waft them into a little cove making into one of these islands at about two hours before noon.
The Rival Campers Afloat|Ruel Perley Smith
She had a vague feeling that the boat should have been ready to waft them miraculously over star-lit seas.
Where the Pavement Ends|John Russell
A puff of wind brought them a waft of fainter odour from the wild violets which carpeted the woods.
Mr. Grex of Monte Carlo|E. Phillips Oppenheim
But we link our wishes with whatsoever would gently waft us over.
The Posthumous Works of Thomas De Quincey, Vol. 1 (2 vols)|Thomas De Quincey

British Dictionary definitions for waft

waft

/ (wɑːft, wɒft) /

verb

to carry or be carried gently on or as if on the air or water

noun

the act or an instance of wafting

something, such as a scent, carried on the air

a wafting motion

Also called: waif nautical (formerly) a signal flag hoisted furled to signify various messages depending on where it was flown

Derived forms of waft

waftage, noun

Word Origin for waft

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

waft

Origin of waft

OTHER WORDS FROM waft

Words nearby waft

Words related to waft

How to use waft in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for waft

Derived forms of waft

Word Origin for waft