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

• blithe
• blithesome
• bright
• canty [British dialect]
• cheerful
• cheery
• chipper
• eupeptic
• gay
• gladsome
• lightsome
• sunny
• upbeat
• winsome

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

Lani Shades are made in Hawaii from wood and bamboo, and thus, are lightweight and buoyant. —Will McGough, Forbes.com, 28 May 2025

Tasters kept coming back to it for its delicate balance of light and buoyant tang with creamy and decadent texture. —Catherine Jessee, Southern Living, 24 May 2025

Simone is damaged and buoyant simultaneously, and the young actress shows a deep maturity in the portrayal of the character's complex mental and emotional state. —Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 23 May 2025

Photo: Lawrence De Leon For dessert, Reyes glided around the table, offering everyone a slice of vegan bibingka, a buoyant and delicately sweet rice cake, while bowls of jammy candied kumquats and homemade coconut ice cream circulated. —Laura Neilson, Vogue, 22 May 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