buoyant

adjective

buoy·​ant ˈbȯi-ənt 

ˈbü-yənt

: having buoyancy

Warm air is more buoyant than cool air.

: such as

a

: capable of floating

Cork is naturally buoyant.

b

: cheerful, gay

in a buoyant mood

c

: capable of maintaining a satisfactorily high level

a buoyant economy

buoyantly adverb

Synonyms

• cheerful
• optimistic
• bright

Examples of buoyant in a Sentence

Warm air is more buoyant than cool air.

The actors were buoyant as they prepared for the evening's performance.

Recent Examples on the Web

Median net worth may be up in the long-term, as evidenced by buoyant consumer spending (and even some splurging), but shoppers are currently taking on more debt, and parking their real money in their homes and 401 (k) accounts while reserving cash flow for necessities like food and utilities. —Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 23 Oct. 2025

But the varied syncopation and intense emotional registers of Orthodox worship music informed his approach to an album that balances weighty introspection with buoyant production and evocative imagery. —Hannah Giorgis Yohannes, Rolling Stone, 20 Oct. 2025

There are not many better examples of how teams struggled to get close to City than when a buoyant Arsenal side, leading the title race, visited the Etihad. —Jordan Campbell, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025

Within both design and fashion, the Middle East is one of those buoyant markets providing a glimmer of hope amid a difficult economy worldwide. —Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 14 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

see buoy entry 1

First Known Use

1578, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for buoyant

• clairvoyant
• flamboyant

Kids Definition

buoyant

adjective

buoy·​ant ˈbȯi-ənt 

ˈbü-yənt

1

: having buoyancy

especially : capable of floating

2

: being in a happy mood : cheerful

buoyantly adverb