buoyant

adjective

buoy·​ant ˈbȯi-ənt How to pronounce buoyant (audio)
ˈbü-yənt
: having buoyancy
Warm air is more buoyant than cool air.
: such as
a
: capable of floating
Cork is naturally buoyant.
b
: cheerful, gay
in a buoyant mood
c
: capable of maintaining a satisfactorily high level
a buoyant economy
buoyantly adverb

Examples of buoyant in a Sentence

Warm air is more buoyant than cool air. The actors were buoyant as they prepared for the evening's performance.
Recent Examples on the Web The music was tight, buoyant, punk-inflected, and exploratory enough to explain what the tapers were doing there. Justin Taylor, The New Yorker, 11 Apr. 2024 The once buoyant tech founder was now staring down a prison sentence that could carry an astonishing 43,000 years. Leif Wenar, WIRED, 2 Apr. 2024 The flowers were first grown in a nursery and then transferred on a buoyant mat platform called a Beemat. Ashley Miznazi, Miami Herald, 28 Mar. 2024 The orchestra made a fabulous partner to Trifonov, their buoyant rapport flush with a nearly flirtatious intimacy. Michael Andor Brodeur, Washington Post, 12 Mar. 2024 While the European energy shock is over, U.S. demand for goods remains buoyant. David McHugh, Fortune Europe, 11 Apr. 2024 Solid, buoyant, and resistant to rot, the trees often grow to heights of 150 feet. The Editors, Robb Report, 28 Mar. 2024 This buoyant mood around Old Trafford has continued during the break with the remarkable impact United’s 18-year-old midfielder Kobbie Mainoo has made in his first two appearances for England against Brazil and Belgium. Sam Pilger, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024 Trending Her rap style and World Wide Whack’s buoyant production make sure its heavy themes don’t weigh it down; instead, the beats build her character. Mankaprr Conteh, Rolling Stone, 15 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'buoyant.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

see buoy entry 1

First Known Use

1578, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of buoyant was in 1578

Dictionary Entries Near buoyant

Cite this Entry

“Buoyant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/buoyant. Accessed 28 Apr. 2024.

Kids Definition

buoyant

adjective
buoy·​ant ˈbȯi-ənt How to pronounce buoyant (audio)
ˈbü-yənt
1
: having buoyancy
especially : capable of floating
2
: being in a happy mood : cheerful
buoyantly adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on buoyant

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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