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
nasty stories were afloat
b
: adrift
Examples of afloat in a Sentence
the boat can't stay afloat much longer
Recent Examples on the Web
Earlier this month, the Department of Agriculture used tax revenue to allocate $300 million to keep the program — known in full as the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children — afloat.
—
Aria Bendix, NBC news, 23 Oct. 2025
Pressing for payment could humiliate people, who often arrive with their extended families, Parmar explained, and in a community this close-knit, that could mean losing dozens of patients, including many of the Medicaid patients who keep the clinic afloat.
—Helen Ouyang, The Atlantic, 21 Oct. 2025
These are the moments when Alcott is at his best, navigating the murky waters of Harrison’s life with no Slice of Life to keep him afloat.
—Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 21 Oct. 2025
Many workers saw their hours decreased as employers tried to minimize costs and stay afloat.
—Adam Summers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Oct. 2025
Even with George Kittle returning this week and maybe Brock Purdy next, Bourne is going to be the focal point of an offense that has to score 30-plus just to stay afloat.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 17 Oct. 2025
The Steelers come in at 4-1 and look to put even more distance between themselves and the rest of the division, while the Bengals with Joe Flacco are looking for a big win to help keep themselves afloat for when Joe Burrow can return from injury.
—Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Oct. 2025
Hobbs said a loan from Navy Federal was keeping the family – her husband, a Navy member of 15 years and their two children, nine and six years old – afloat.
—Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA Today, 16 Oct. 2025
But the Missouri defense had some big answers following turnovers that kept the Tigers afloat.
—Maddie Hartley, Kansas City Star, 11 Oct. 2025
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Aria Bendix, NBC news, 23 Oct. 2025
Pressing for payment could humiliate people, who often arrive with their extended families, Parmar explained, and in a community this close-knit, that could mean losing dozens of patients, including many of the Medicaid patients who keep the clinic afloat.
—Helen Ouyang, The Atlantic, 21 Oct. 2025
These are the moments when Alcott is at his best, navigating the murky waters of Harrison’s life with no Slice of Life to keep him afloat.
—Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 21 Oct. 2025
Many workers saw their hours decreased as employers tried to minimize costs and stay afloat.
—Adam Summers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Oct. 2025
Even with George Kittle returning this week and maybe Brock Purdy next, Bourne is going to be the focal point of an offense that has to score 30-plus just to stay afloat.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 17 Oct. 2025
The Steelers come in at 4-1 and look to put even more distance between themselves and the rest of the division, while the Bengals with Joe Flacco are looking for a big win to help keep themselves afloat for when Joe Burrow can return from injury.
—Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Oct. 2025
Hobbs said a loan from Navy Federal was keeping the family – her husband, a Navy member of 15 years and their two children, nine and six years old – afloat.
—Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA Today, 16 Oct. 2025
But the Missouri defense had some big answers following turnovers that kept the Tigers afloat.
—Maddie Hartley, Kansas City Star, 11 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Afloat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/afloat. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
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