float

1 of 2

noun

ˈflōt 

1

: an act or instance of floating

2

: something that floats in or on the surface of a fluid: such as

a

: a device (such as a cork) buoying up the baited end of a fishing line

b

: a floating platform anchored near a shoreline for use by swimmers or boats

c

: a hollow ball that floats at the end of a lever in a cistern, tank, or boiler and regulates the liquid level

d

: a sac containing air or gas and buoying up the body of a plant or animal

e

: a watertight structure giving an airplane buoyancy on water

3

: a tool or apparatus for smoothing a surface (as of wet concrete)

4

: a government grant of a fixed amount of land not yet located by survey out of a larger specific tract

5

: a vehicle with a platform used to carry an exhibit in a parade

also : the vehicle and exhibit together

6

a

: an amount of money represented by checks outstanding and in process of collection

b

: the time between a transaction (such as the writing of a check or a purchase on credit) and the actual withdrawal of funds to cover it

c

: the volume of a company's shares available for active trading in the auction market

7

: a soft drink with ice cream floating in it

float

2 of 2

verb

floated; floating; floats

intransitive verb

1

: to rest on the surface of or be suspended in a fluid

2

a

: to drift or move on or through or as if on or through a fluid

Yellow leaves floated down.

She floated across the stage.

b

: wander

c

: to live without a serious purpose or goal

floats through life

3

of a currency : to find a level in the international exchange market in response to the law of supply and demand and without any restrictive effect of artificial support or control

transitive verb

1

a

: to cause to float in or on the surface of a fluid

floating logs down the river

b

: to cause to float as if in a fluid

2

: flood

float a cranberry bog

3

: to smooth (something, such as plaster or cement) with a float

4

a

: to put forth for acceptance

float a proposal

b

: to place (an issue of securities) on the market

c

: to obtain money for the establishment or development of (an enterprise) by issuing and selling securities

d

: negotiate

float a loan

Synonyms of float

Noun

• dock
• wharf
• pier

Verb

• hover
• sail
• swim
• drift

Examples of float in a Sentence

Noun

We are building a float for the homecoming parade.

the crew put the cargo on the float before heading back down the river

Verb

She was floating on her back.

ice floating in the river

Will this material sink or float?

dust floating through the air

The incoming tide will eventually float the ship off the reef.

They floated the logs down the river.

She floated gracefully across the stage.

His voice floated to the back of the room.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The slush float includes layers of DQ Cherry Misty slush, soft serve ice cream and blue raspberry Misty slush with festive star sprinkles, the company said. — Don Sweeney, Idaho Statesman, 24 June 2026

Wendy's has a short interest of around 23% of its float, according to S3 Partners, potentially setting up a short squeeze. — Davis Giangiulio,lisa Kailai Han, CNBC, 24 June 2026

Verb

The trail that led to the record haul began in the state of Queensland, when local police officers responding to reports of a truck fire found 40 kilograms of cocaine floating in the sea near a boat ramp. — Hilary Whiteman, CNN Money, 26 June 2026

Lake managers have begun extending boat ramps in preparation for ongoing low levels, and workers recently floated the entire Bullfrog Marina across the lake into deeper water at Halls Crossing in Utah. — Trevor Hughes, USA Today, 26 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English flote boat, float, from Old English flota ship; akin to Old High German flōz raft, stream, Old English flēotan to float — more at fleet

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Phrases Containing float

• dead man's float
• float glass
• milk float

Rhymes for float

• bloat
• boat
• choate
• coat
• cote
• dote
• gloat
• goat
• groat
• haute
• moat
• mote

Kids Definition

float

1 of 2 noun

ˈflōt 

1

: an act or instance of floating

2

: something that floats: as

a

: a device (as a cork) that holds up the baited end of a fishing line

b

: a floating platform anchored near a shoreline for use by swimmers or boats

c

: a hollow ball that controls the flow or level of the liquid it floats on (as in a tank)

d

: a watertight structure that holds up an airplane on water

3

: a vehicle with a platform used to carry an exhibit in a parade

also : the vehicle and exhibit together

4

: a drink consisting of ice cream floating in a beverage

float

2 of 2 verb

1

: to rest on the surface of a fluid

2

: to drift on or through or as if on or through a fluid

dust floating through the air

3

: to cause to float

float logs down a river

floater noun

Legal Definition

float

1 of 2 noun

1

: an amount of money represented by checks outstanding and in process of collection

2

: the time between a transaction (as the writing of a check or a purchase on credit) and the actual withdrawal of funds to cover it

float

2 of 2 intransitive verb

of a currency : to find a level in the international exchange market in response to the law of supply and demand and without any restrictive effect of artificial support or control

transitive verb

1

: to place (an issue of securities) on the market

2

: to obtain money for the establishment or development of (an enterprise) by issuing and selling securities

3

: negotiate sense 1

float a loan