afloat
adjective or adverb
1
a
: borne on or as if on the water
b
: being at sea
2
: free of difficulties : self-sufficient
the inheritance kept them afloat for years
3
a
: circulating about
Silly rumors were afloat.
b
: adrift
Examples of afloat in a Sentence
the boat can't stay afloat much longer
Recent Examples on the Web
Meanwhile, nurturing the state's youngest citizens remains a burden for child care providers like Keyes, who is having a hard time keeping her center financially afloat.
—
Sophia Paffenroth Mississippi Today, Arkansas Online, 23 Nov. 2025
The findings reveal a surprising sense of economic anxiety, with 64% of six-figure earners saying their income isn’t a milestone for success but merely the bare minimum for staying afloat.
—Jason Ma, Fortune, 23 Nov. 2025
Leasing land for turbines or solar panels brought in tens of thousands of dollars a year and kept many family farms afloat.
—Kee Hyun Park, The Conversation, 20 Nov. 2025
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act, or CARES, created the Paycheck Protection Program, which provided WisconsinEye with a $112,000 forgivable loan, helping keep the network afloat.
—Anna Kleiber, jsonline.com, 20 Nov. 2025
Still, signing Bregman would keep them afloat in the National League Central.
—MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Nov. 2025
Aggie, who struggles to stay afloat, is an outsider in Oyster Bay.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 13 Nov. 2025
The organization does not receive federal assistance to purchase food, and relies on donations from the community as well as big box stores like Walmart and Trader Joe’s to stay afloat.
—Amanda McCoy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 Nov. 2025
Princess Beatrice is still afloat amid her father’s title being stripped.
—Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 10 Nov. 2025
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Sophia Paffenroth Mississippi Today, Arkansas Online, 23 Nov. 2025
The findings reveal a surprising sense of economic anxiety, with 64% of six-figure earners saying their income isn’t a milestone for success but merely the bare minimum for staying afloat.
—Jason Ma, Fortune, 23 Nov. 2025
Leasing land for turbines or solar panels brought in tens of thousands of dollars a year and kept many family farms afloat.
—Kee Hyun Park, The Conversation, 20 Nov. 2025
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act, or CARES, created the Paycheck Protection Program, which provided WisconsinEye with a $112,000 forgivable loan, helping keep the network afloat.
—Anna Kleiber, jsonline.com, 20 Nov. 2025
Still, signing Bregman would keep them afloat in the National League Central.
—MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Nov. 2025
Aggie, who struggles to stay afloat, is an outsider in Oyster Bay.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 13 Nov. 2025
The organization does not receive federal assistance to purchase food, and relies on donations from the community as well as big box stores like Walmart and Trader Joe’s to stay afloat.
—Amanda McCoy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 Nov. 2025
Princess Beatrice is still afloat amid her father’s title being stripped.
—Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 10 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Afloat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/afloat. Accessed 29 Nov. 2025.
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