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
Inside Venezuela, authorities have turned to heavier taxation and extortion of businesses to keep the state’s security apparatus afloat.
—
Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 2 Oct. 2025
Not long after, the district decided to essentially lend $25 million to the Isaac Elementary School District to help that district stay afloat, and then spent more than $15 million on new land.
—Alexandra Hardle, AZCentral.com, 30 Sep. 2025
Theater operators, who are struggling to stay afloat post-COVID, would be adamantly opposed to tariffs on tickets.
—Gene Maddaus, Variety, 29 Sep. 2025
The Las Vegas Raiders (1–2) are banking on their experienced offense to stay afloat, with Geno Smith leading a passing attack that's among the league leaders in yardage.
—Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Sep. 2025
Donations from colleagues and community members helped the family stay afloat.
—Sydney Barragan, Oc Register, 27 Sep. 2025
Instead, group homes that used that model would be forced to apply to the Minnesota Department of Human Services for behavioral health funding to stay afloat, and abide by an entirely different set of regulations and expectations.
—Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 23 Sep. 2025
The dual revenue stream is expected to keep the project financially afloat regardless of any steps by Beijing to sway markets.
—Ernest Scheyder, Reuters, 19 Sep. 2025
Once flush with venture capital dollars, many were now struggling to stay afloat.
—Amanda Lauren, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 2 Oct. 2025
Not long after, the district decided to essentially lend $25 million to the Isaac Elementary School District to help that district stay afloat, and then spent more than $15 million on new land.
—Alexandra Hardle, AZCentral.com, 30 Sep. 2025
Theater operators, who are struggling to stay afloat post-COVID, would be adamantly opposed to tariffs on tickets.
—Gene Maddaus, Variety, 29 Sep. 2025
The Las Vegas Raiders (1–2) are banking on their experienced offense to stay afloat, with Geno Smith leading a passing attack that's among the league leaders in yardage.
—Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Sep. 2025
Donations from colleagues and community members helped the family stay afloat.
—Sydney Barragan, Oc Register, 27 Sep. 2025
Instead, group homes that used that model would be forced to apply to the Minnesota Department of Human Services for behavioral health funding to stay afloat, and abide by an entirely different set of regulations and expectations.
—Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 23 Sep. 2025
The dual revenue stream is expected to keep the project financially afloat regardless of any steps by Beijing to sway markets.
—Ernest Scheyder, Reuters, 19 Sep. 2025
Once flush with venture capital dollars, many were now struggling to stay afloat.
—Amanda Lauren, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Afloat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/afloat. Accessed 10 Oct. 2025.
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