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 on or through or as if on or through a fluid

yellow leaves floated down

b

: wander

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

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

Noun

• dock
• jetty
• landing
• levee
• pier
• quai
• quay
• wharf

Verb

• drift
• glide
• hang
• hover
• poise
• ride
• sail
• swim
• waft

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

Amenities will include indoor/outdoor treatment rooms, water therapy, float tank, acupuncture, skincare, body therapies, fitness classes, yoga, and more. —Patricia Doherty, Travel + Leisure, 18 Mar. 2024

Wear a visible hat, take a tow float and consider a thermal wet suit for buoyancy. —Sandee Lamotte, CNN, 14 Mar. 2024

Once it’s returned to the water, an olm that has swallowed air floats on the surface like a pool noodle and can’t swim properly. —Elizabeth Anne Brown, New York Times, 12 Mar. 2024

Today the city must settle for bringing floats and participants over from the other side. —USA TODAY, 29 Feb. 2024

Observations from various ocean measurement devices, including conductivity-temperature-depth instruments (CTDs), Argo profiling floats, and eXpendable BathyThermographs. —Li Cohen, CBS News, 28 Feb. 2024

The canoes may also have been outfitted with sails, outriggers or support floats, the study suggests. —Christian Thorsberg, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Mar. 2024

Vent steam: Carefully turn steam release handle to VENTING position, and let steam fully escape (float valve will drop). —Southern Living Test Kitchen, Southern Living, 11 Mar. 2024

The floats will be judged by a panel of judges, with a winner crowned at the end of the parade. —Detroit Free Press, 10 Mar. 2024

Verb

Keegan Murray grabbed the rebound, but Hauser poked it out of his hands, right to Tillman, who drove the lane and floated the game winner home. —Chris Biderman, Sacramento Bee, 6 Apr. 2024

Johnson has also floated other ideas, like bringing up Ukraine aid in exchange for President Biden reversing a moratorium on natural gas export permitting, or allowing the sale of frozen assets of Russian oligarchs. —Kaia Hubbard, CBS News, 5 Apr. 2024

After Republicans introduced the legislation to name the airport located outside the nation's capital after Trump, Connolly floated renaming a prison after Trump. —Lauren Peller, ABC News, 5 Apr. 2024

His name was floated for several openings over the last month, from Louisville to Michigan to DePaul. —Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 4 Apr. 2024

In 2019, the university floated ideas of raising the cross walks and adding pedestrian refuge islands. —Harrison Mantas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Apr. 2024

During Wednesday’s discussion, Suarez floated another assistant city manager, Mark Taxis, as an option for the interim manager role to give Williams the option to apply for the permanent position. —Aaron Leibowitz, Miami Herald, 3 Apr. 2024

This means the thought of floating down the Rhine on a 12-day river cruise while locked in with a static set of human beings has all the makings of me losing my mind. —Sherry Kuehl, Kansas City Star, 3 Apr. 2024

Teachers get help from 10 paraprofessionals who float around the school's 17 classrooms. —Rory Linnane, Journal Sentinel, 25 Mar. 2024

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
• milk float
• float glass

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