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
The resulting funding gap meant Edwards and his leadership team had to get creative in order to keep the organization afloat.
—
Natalie Wallington, MLK50, 3 Feb. 2026
As result, consumers hoard their money instead of spending it, forcing businesses to trim wages, staff and prices to remain afloat.
—Jason Ma, Fortune, 1 Feb. 2026
Utah answered behind Keyonte George and Kyle Filipowski, who found a rhythm of their own, but Dëmin’s shot-making and a balanced Nets bench effort kept Brooklyn afloat.
—C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 31 Jan. 2026
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 alternative newspaper to keep it afloat.
—Robert Channick, Chicago Tribune, 30 Jan. 2026
King suggested that a short-term continuing resolution could keep FEMA and other agencies afloat.
—Garrett Downs,emily Wilkins, CNBC, 28 Jan. 2026
Now the Warriors need Curry to be that much better over the second half of the season to stay afloat.
—Law Murray, New York Times, 26 Jan. 2026
The bakery’s grand opening was delayed for weeks due to unlicensed contractor work that left the owner thousands of dollars in debt and scrambling to stay afloat.
—Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, jsonline.com, 23 Jan. 2026
Without foot traffic and visitors, even the best restaurants and hardest-working teams struggle to stay afloat.
—Jon Weber, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Jan. 2026
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Natalie Wallington, MLK50, 3 Feb. 2026
As result, consumers hoard their money instead of spending it, forcing businesses to trim wages, staff and prices to remain afloat.
—Jason Ma, Fortune, 1 Feb. 2026
Utah answered behind Keyonte George and Kyle Filipowski, who found a rhythm of their own, but Dëmin’s shot-making and a balanced Nets bench effort kept Brooklyn afloat.
—C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 31 Jan. 2026
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 alternative newspaper to keep it afloat.
—Robert Channick, Chicago Tribune, 30 Jan. 2026
King suggested that a short-term continuing resolution could keep FEMA and other agencies afloat.
—Garrett Downs,emily Wilkins, CNBC, 28 Jan. 2026
Now the Warriors need Curry to be that much better over the second half of the season to stay afloat.
—Law Murray, New York Times, 26 Jan. 2026
The bakery’s grand opening was delayed for weeks due to unlicensed contractor work that left the owner thousands of dollars in debt and scrambling to stay afloat.
—Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, jsonline.com, 23 Jan. 2026
Without foot traffic and visitors, even the best restaurants and hardest-working teams struggle to stay afloat.
—Jon Weber, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Afloat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/afloat. Accessed 7 Feb. 2026.
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