drift apart
Meaning(s)
1. become less intimate or friendly
Popularity
Medium
Professional
Medium
Social
How to Memorize
the couple/family/friends drifted apart
Analysis
To 'drift apart' is a phrasal verb meaning to lose personal contact with someone or for a relationship that discontinues over time. When two people drift apart their relationship is not as strong as it once was. This is an expression usually used to talk about personal relationships rather than professional ones.
Social Examples (Basic)
- The married couple drifted apart when they took jobs at opposite ends of the country.
- Even though they had been friends since childhood, they all drifted apart after college.
Professional Examples (Basic)
- I used to have a friend who was an expert in this kind of engineering we drifted apart in the last few years but I'll see if I can contact him.
- This kind of DNA database can help connect family members who have drifted apart over generations.