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
Many had to navigate complicated insurance claims and apply for emergency loans to stay afloat.
—
Roger Vincent, Los Angeles Times, 9 Jan. 2026
Santa Clara County’s investment in new health care services comes as its bracing for devastating federal cuts to Medicaid revenues that are key to keeping the system afloat.
—Grace Hase, Mercury News, 7 Jan. 2026
Investigations explained how decisions made in Washington ripple outward — to farmers, veterans, federal workers and families struggling to stay afloat.
—Thomas Evans, NPR, 22 Dec. 2025
More and more people are working second and third jobs to supplement their income and stay afloat.
—Essence, 19 Dec. 2025
Enacted in March 2020, the PPP loan program served as a financial lifeline that kept afloat millions of businesses that struggled economically in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
—Chris Ramirez, jsonline.com, 15 Dec. 2025
Prosecutors say a school guidance counselor, Francisca Josefina Tavárez Vélez, did not intervene as Stephora struggled to stay afloat.
—Vera Lucia Pappaterra, Miami Herald, 15 Dec. 2025
But as Daniels battled injuries this season, the Commanders couldn’t remain afloat.
—Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 15 Dec. 2025
As a top purchaser of Russian natural gas and oil, China has helped keep Russia’s war economy afloat.
—Micah McCartney, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2025
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Roger Vincent, Los Angeles Times, 9 Jan. 2026
Santa Clara County’s investment in new health care services comes as its bracing for devastating federal cuts to Medicaid revenues that are key to keeping the system afloat.
—Grace Hase, Mercury News, 7 Jan. 2026
Investigations explained how decisions made in Washington ripple outward — to farmers, veterans, federal workers and families struggling to stay afloat.
—Thomas Evans, NPR, 22 Dec. 2025
More and more people are working second and third jobs to supplement their income and stay afloat.
—Essence, 19 Dec. 2025
Enacted in March 2020, the PPP loan program served as a financial lifeline that kept afloat millions of businesses that struggled economically in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
—Chris Ramirez, jsonline.com, 15 Dec. 2025
Prosecutors say a school guidance counselor, Francisca Josefina Tavárez Vélez, did not intervene as Stephora struggled to stay afloat.
—Vera Lucia Pappaterra, Miami Herald, 15 Dec. 2025
But as Daniels battled injuries this season, the Commanders couldn’t remain afloat.
—Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 15 Dec. 2025
As a top purchaser of Russian natural gas and oil, China has helped keep Russia’s war economy afloat.
—Micah McCartney, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Afloat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/afloat. Accessed 10 Jan. 2026.
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