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
But for all the strong words, analysts say the effort appears aimed at keeping the economy afloat rather than boosting it.
—
Ken Moritsugu, Los Angeles Times, 9 Mar. 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, 9 Mar. 2026
The irregular migrants, asylum seekers, refugees and undocumented migrants, precariously – and often fatally – trying to reach Europe in anything afloat, desperate in search of a better life.
—Thinus Ferreira, Variety, 6 Mar. 2026
In December, Wisconsin Watch reported on an Appleton technical charter school that struggles to manage high program costs and secure donations to stay afloat.
—Miranda Dunlap, jsonline.com, 6 Mar. 2026
Nationally, opinions vary widely regarding AI, the companies that run them, and the environmental impacts needed to keep them afloat.
—Jordan Green, Memphis Commercial Appeal, 6 Mar. 2026
The crew reports that a port ballast tank is losing water which suggests some form of hull breach but the ship remains stable and safely afloat.
—CBS News, 5 Mar. 2026
Funding cuts forced some victim-service organizations to reduce staff and services to stay afloat.
—Maddy Keyes, The Frontier, 5 Mar. 2026
But what if the Penguins stay afloat?
—Josh Yohe, New York Times, 3 Mar. 2026
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Ken Moritsugu, Los Angeles Times, 9 Mar. 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, 9 Mar. 2026
The irregular migrants, asylum seekers, refugees and undocumented migrants, precariously – and often fatally – trying to reach Europe in anything afloat, desperate in search of a better life.
—Thinus Ferreira, Variety, 6 Mar. 2026
In December, Wisconsin Watch reported on an Appleton technical charter school that struggles to manage high program costs and secure donations to stay afloat.
—Miranda Dunlap, jsonline.com, 6 Mar. 2026
Nationally, opinions vary widely regarding AI, the companies that run them, and the environmental impacts needed to keep them afloat.
—Jordan Green, Memphis Commercial Appeal, 6 Mar. 2026
The crew reports that a port ballast tank is losing water which suggests some form of hull breach but the ship remains stable and safely afloat.
—CBS News, 5 Mar. 2026
Funding cuts forced some victim-service organizations to reduce staff and services to stay afloat.
—Maddy Keyes, The Frontier, 5 Mar. 2026
But what if the Penguins stay afloat?
—Josh Yohe, New York Times, 3 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Afloat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/afloat. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.
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