float 1 of 2

verb

Definition of floatnext
1
as in to hover
to rest or move along the surface of a liquid or in the air a canoe floating down the river particles of dust floating in the air

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to wander
to move about from place to place aimlessly lost touch with a childhood friend who spent much of his adult life floating from place to place

Synonyms & Similar Words

float

2 of 2

noun

ˈflōt How to pronounce float (audio)
as in dock
a structure used by boats and ships for taking on or landing cargo and passengers the crew put the cargo on the float before heading back down the river

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of float
Verb
Imagine trying to swallow a sip of water while your face feels stuffed with congestion, your sense of taste is dulled and your body is floating 250 miles (400 kilometers) above Earth. — Sundeep Venkatesan, The Conversation, 3 Aug. 2026 Space exploration enthusiasts have been tracking the unprecedented journey of SpaceX’s latest Starship prototype, which wound up floating in the Indian Ocean after the company’s latest test flight. — Jackie Wattles, CNN Money, 3 Aug. 2026
Noun
On those three, June 2026 was the strongest month stablecoins have recorded, and the $10 billion that left the float went into tokenized funds that pay their holders, which is where idle savings belong. — Zennon Kapron, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026 Before the incident, people had celebrated peacefully, marching through the city for hours, dancing to loud music, and cheering the around 80 floats that participated in the parade. — Kirsten Grieshaber, Chicago Tribune, 25 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for float
Recent Examples of Synonyms for float
  1. hover
  2. wander
  3. dock
  4. sail
  5. roam
  6. wharf
  7. swim
  8. drift
Verb
  • As a result, the average restaurant profit margin now hovers between a precarious 3% and 5%, and industry data suggests that up to 42% of restaurants are currently struggling just to stay in the black.
    — Robert Messer, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026
  • With the global benchmark for oil currently hovering near $90 per barrel, China’s dramatic dip in oil exports—by close to 4 million barrels daily—is the biggest reason why prices aren’t much higher.
    — Jordan Blum, Fortune, 31 July 2026
Definition of hover
Verb
  • After her Scout Stage set, indie-country singer Michaela Anne wandered over and climbed into the driver’s seat of the Terra.
    — Lori Majewski, Rolling Stone, 3 Aug. 2026
  • According to Fusaro, the license plate readers have been used to quickly resolve Amber alerts and to find missing runaways or individuals with dementia who wander off, including those who have made it across state lines.
    — Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of wander
Noun
  • Just 45 minutes from Houston and located on Galveston Bay, San Leon is known for fresh oysters, fishing docks, and waterfront restaurants.
    — Gabi De la Rosa, Southern Living, 29 July 2026
  • The main office was completely submerged, the main dock was destroyed, and the business lost infrastructure, inventory and equipment.
    — Amber Harding OutKick, FOXNews.com, 28 July 2026
Definition of dock
Verb
  • Travelers could choose to either sail around the continent and come through Panama or cross the continent by horse and wagon.
    — Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 30 July 2026
  • Murray sailed a throw down the left sideline in Jefferson’s direction.
    — Alec Lewis, New York Times, 30 July 2026
Definition of sail
Verb
  • The Curiosity rover stumbled on the polygon field while ascending the foothills of a three-mile-high mountain called Mount Sharp, where it’s been roaming since 2014.
    — Frank Landymore, Futurism, 30 July 2026
  • The animals roamed near the Amboseli National Park, which borders a farming and livestock area around 140 miles south of the capital Nairobi, according to the Associated Press.
    — Gina Kalsi, PEOPLE, 30 July 2026
Definition of roam
Noun
  • Stroll around the wharf and its eclectic businesses, or get out on the water with whale watching expeditions, sailing cruises, fishing and lobstering tours, and day trips and ferry rides to explore Casco Bay and its stunning islands.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 July 2026
  • When not enjoying the beautiful trappings and luxury amenities of the hotel, walk over to Stearns Wharf, the oldest working wood wharf in California, where views of the Santa Ynez Mountains meet the Pacific.
    — Rebecca R. Norris, USA Today, 22 July 2026
Definition of wharf
Verb
  • Primus could easily have been a blip, one of many abortive major label risks in a decade when the industry was swimming in cash.
    — Sasha Geffen, Pitchfork, 2 Aug. 2026
  • Dikra is a 20-year-old migrant from Morocco CEUTA, Spain -- Dikra, a 20-year-old migrant from Morocco, had spent five days in Ceuta by Sunday after swimming to the Spanish territory with her younger sister and cousin.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of swim
Verb
  • If its multiple drifts back to 30 over the next five years, Apple will need a 5% annual push from a combination of repurchases and earnings expansion just to stay even, to maintain its share price at current levels.
    — Shawn Tully, Fortune, 30 July 2026
  • Mortgage rates are also drifting higher amid concerns that fighting in the Middle East could accelerate inflation, as shipping disruptions in the region push up oil and fuel prices.
    — Mary Cunningham, CBS News, 30 July 2026
Definition of drift

Browse Nearby Words

flivvers
float
floated
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Cite this Entry

“Float.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/float. Accessed 6 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on float

Nglish: Translation of float for Spanish Speakers

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