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
Gritty spaces, such as Superchief Gallery, have been vocal about struggles to stay afloat.
—
Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 4 Mar. 2026
Medicaid, a joint federal-state program for low-income and disabled Americans, serves nearly 1 in 4 rural residents, and many rural hospitals depend on it to stay afloat.
—Arielle Zionts, CBS News, 3 Mar. 2026
But one Boise eatery has taken its struggle to stay afloat public.
—Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman, 26 Feb. 2026
Galloway believed walking during a run reduced the risk of injury, conserved energy and kept confidence afloat.
—ABC News, 25 Feb. 2026
With state funding lagging, schools have raised tuition to stay afloat, a cycle the legislation’s sponsors say their plan could break.
—Jack O'Connor, Chicago Tribune, 22 Feb. 2026
Cars were still given as parting gifts for retired employees, and hundreds of thousands of dollars continued to be spent on promotional events and videos — all while membership continued its downward spiral and the union’s pension fund struggled to stay afloat.
—Judy L. Thomas, Kansas City Star, 20 Feb. 2026
The bird was struggling to stay afloat.
—Nicholas Williams, New York Daily News, 18 Feb. 2026
Several restaurateurs told the city that during pandemic lockdowns, drive-through business was the only thing that kept them afloat.
—Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 17 Feb. 2026
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Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 4 Mar. 2026
Medicaid, a joint federal-state program for low-income and disabled Americans, serves nearly 1 in 4 rural residents, and many rural hospitals depend on it to stay afloat.
—Arielle Zionts, CBS News, 3 Mar. 2026
But one Boise eatery has taken its struggle to stay afloat public.
—Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman, 26 Feb. 2026
Galloway believed walking during a run reduced the risk of injury, conserved energy and kept confidence afloat.
—ABC News, 25 Feb. 2026
With state funding lagging, schools have raised tuition to stay afloat, a cycle the legislation’s sponsors say their plan could break.
—Jack O'Connor, Chicago Tribune, 22 Feb. 2026
Cars were still given as parting gifts for retired employees, and hundreds of thousands of dollars continued to be spent on promotional events and videos — all while membership continued its downward spiral and the union’s pension fund struggled to stay afloat.
—Judy L. Thomas, Kansas City Star, 20 Feb. 2026
The bird was struggling to stay afloat.
—Nicholas Williams, New York Daily News, 18 Feb. 2026
Several restaurateurs told the city that during pandemic lockdowns, drive-through business was the only thing that kept them afloat.
—Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 17 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Afloat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/afloat. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.
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