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
Rumors are afloat that the Trump administration, to help Adams get reelected, will offer Sliwa a big job in D.C. and that Republican bigwig John Catsimatidis will let Sliwa out of his WABC radio contract.
—
Ken Frydman, New York Daily News, 30 June 2025
But those struggling to stay financially afloat should consider the option sooner rather than later, advise experts who study when and why people file.
—Kate Gibson, CBS News, 20 Nov. 2024
The country’s economy, meanwhile, remains afloat through a sharp and unsustainable rise in borrowing.
—Edward P. Joseph, Foreign Affairs, 10 May 2015
Steve Investigates keeps him pleasantly busy and adequately afloat.
—Lizz Schumer, Peoplemag, 21 June 2024
Others stayed near the boats that were still afloat.
—Julia Daye, Miami Herald, 22 Mar. 2024
With an afloat schedule packed with exercises, trainings and exchanges, the aged ship was still able to prevent nearly 4,000 pounds of cocaine and 5,400 pounds of marijuana from entering the United States.
—Craig Hooper, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2024
This new home, however, is afloat and moving from place to place.
—Georgina Cruz, Miami Herald, 30 Jan. 2024
The father’s frustration with the failure of his business ventures and all efforts to stay afloat forces him to shift from being a considerate parent into a militant one obsessed with controlling his children who know no other way but to obey him.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 12 Jan. 2024
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Ken Frydman, New York Daily News, 30 June 2025
But those struggling to stay financially afloat should consider the option sooner rather than later, advise experts who study when and why people file.
—Kate Gibson, CBS News, 20 Nov. 2024
The country’s economy, meanwhile, remains afloat through a sharp and unsustainable rise in borrowing.
—Edward P. Joseph, Foreign Affairs, 10 May 2015
Steve Investigates keeps him pleasantly busy and adequately afloat.
—Lizz Schumer, Peoplemag, 21 June 2024
Others stayed near the boats that were still afloat.
—Julia Daye, Miami Herald, 22 Mar. 2024
With an afloat schedule packed with exercises, trainings and exchanges, the aged ship was still able to prevent nearly 4,000 pounds of cocaine and 5,400 pounds of marijuana from entering the United States.
—Craig Hooper, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2024
This new home, however, is afloat and moving from place to place.
—Georgina Cruz, Miami Herald, 30 Jan. 2024
The father’s frustration with the failure of his business ventures and all efforts to stay afloat forces him to shift from being a considerate parent into a militant one obsessed with controlling his children who know no other way but to obey him.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 12 Jan. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Afloat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/afloat. Accessed 12 Jul. 2025.
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