waft

Meaning

Verb

1. To (cause to) float easily or gently through the air.
2. To be moved, or to pass, on a buoyant medium; to float.
3. To give notice to by waving something; to wave the hand to; to beckon.

Noun

1. A light breeze.
2. Something (such as an odor or perfume) that is carried through the air.
3. A flag used to indicate wind direction or, with a knot tied in the center, as a signal; a waif, a wheft.

Synonyms

float

drift

puff

breath

blow

wave

👋

whiff

blow over

overflow

streamer

pennant

pennon

flutter

wander

hover

waff

rip

scud

signal flag

soar

spread

stream

swell

swim

🏊

swirl

unfounded

unsubstantial

wafture

wing

🪽

code flag

float in the air

follow the wind

nautical signal flag

aura

bear along

billow

blowing

bob

breathing

breeze

buoy

carry

current

empty

exceed

fly

✈️

groundless

hang

meander

reach

Pronounced as (IPA)

/wɑft/

Etymology

From Middle English waften, of uncertain origin. Possibly from unattested Old English *wafettan, from wafian (“to wave”) + -ettan, or perhaps borrowed from Middle Dutch wachten (“to guard, provide for”).
See also German wabern (“to waft”), Faroese veiftra (“to wave”) and Icelandic váfa (“to fluctuate, waver, doubt”).