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
Similarly, Wells Fargo CEO Charles Scharf told CNBC Wednesday that his bank is seeing lower-income Americans struggling to stay afloat, despite larger companies seemingly doing well.
—
Laya Neelakandan, CNBC, 11 Sep. 2025
In the nightmare scenario for a couple that has just started dating, Cherry lies about being a confident swimmer and ends up struggling to keep herself afloat in the ocean, so Laura has to jump in and rescue her.
—Olivia B. Waxman, Time, 10 Sep. 2025
As the study notes, these costs must either be passed onto consumers, or absorbed by companies, forcing some to shutter and others to shed staff to remain afloat.
—Tiger Joyce, Boston Herald, 10 Sep. 2025
Madharaasi saw a major dip in collections on its second day but managed to stay afloat and higher than other fresh Indian releases.
—Sweta Kaushal, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Now down three starters, the Royals will try to remain afloat in the American League Wild Card race.
—Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 9 Sep. 2025
The 49ers’ defense kept them afloat for much of the contest, but the offense couldn’t find paydirt.
—Hunter Bailey, Charlotte Observer, 7 Sep. 2025
On the streets of Caracas, word of the US strike is on everyone’s lips, but beyond being a popular talking point most people here are keeping calm and carrying on – while doing their best to stay afloat.
—Andrew Raine, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2025
In 2018, Chicago attorney Len Goodman and real estate developer Elzie Higginbottom bought the Reader from the Chicago Sun-Times for $1 and the assumption of debt, rescuing it from dissolution and pumping more than $1 million each into the paper to keep it afloat.
—Darcel Rockett, Chicago Tribune, 26 Aug. 2025
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Laya Neelakandan, CNBC, 11 Sep. 2025
In the nightmare scenario for a couple that has just started dating, Cherry lies about being a confident swimmer and ends up struggling to keep herself afloat in the ocean, so Laura has to jump in and rescue her.
—Olivia B. Waxman, Time, 10 Sep. 2025
As the study notes, these costs must either be passed onto consumers, or absorbed by companies, forcing some to shutter and others to shed staff to remain afloat.
—Tiger Joyce, Boston Herald, 10 Sep. 2025
Madharaasi saw a major dip in collections on its second day but managed to stay afloat and higher than other fresh Indian releases.
—Sweta Kaushal, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Now down three starters, the Royals will try to remain afloat in the American League Wild Card race.
—Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 9 Sep. 2025
The 49ers’ defense kept them afloat for much of the contest, but the offense couldn’t find paydirt.
—Hunter Bailey, Charlotte Observer, 7 Sep. 2025
On the streets of Caracas, word of the US strike is on everyone’s lips, but beyond being a popular talking point most people here are keeping calm and carrying on – while doing their best to stay afloat.
—Andrew Raine, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2025
In 2018, Chicago attorney Len Goodman and real estate developer Elzie Higginbottom bought the Reader from the Chicago Sun-Times for $1 and the assumption of debt, rescuing it from dissolution and pumping more than $1 million each into the paper to keep it afloat.
—Darcel Rockett, Chicago Tribune, 26 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Afloat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/afloat. Accessed 13 Sep. 2025.
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