Definition of FLOUNDERING

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Verb

Despite the fact that flounder is a relatively common English verb, its origins in the language remain obscure. It is thought that it may be an alteration of an older verb, founder. To founder is to become disabled, to give way or collapse, or to come to grief or to fail. In the case of a waterborne vessel, to founder is to sink. The oldest of these senses of founder, "to become disabled," was also used, particularly in reference to a horse and its rider, for the act of stumbling violently or collapsing. It may have been this sense of founder that later appeared in altered form as flounder in the sense of "to stumble."

Examples of flounder in a Sentence

Verb

The horses were floundering through the deep snow. He was floundering around in the pool like an amateur. After watching me flounder for a few minutes, my instructor took over.

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

The researchers aren’t saying sea bass and flounder would no longer be found off areas such as the New Jersey coast, but their main habitats could move, forcing fishing operations to roam further, spending more time at sea and burning more gas. — Frank Kummer, Philly.com, "N.J. flounder, sea bass pushed north because of climate change, say scientists," 18 May 2018 Cod, pollock, flounders and other whitefish are being hauled in from the Gulf of Alaska and Bering Sea. — Laine Welch, Anchorage Daily News, "For Alaska sockeye salmon, record highs in Bristol Bay, record lows nearly everywhere else," 9 July 2018 The company has bet on appliance sales as rival Sears Holdings flounders. — Nathan Bomey, USA TODAY, "J.C. Penney stock plunges as cold weather zaps sales," 17 May 2018 Summertime highlights include Buffalo brussels sprouts with blue cheese mousse, bluefish cakes, and fish tacos made with Vineyard flounder. — Alyssa Giacobbe, Town & Country, "T&C Travel Guide: The Best of Martha's Vineyard," 13 June 2018 When studying populations of a flounder-like North Sea fish called plaice in the early 1900’s, a man named Heincke noticed that older, larger fish are found deeper in the water than younger, smaller fish. — Diana Gitig, Ars Technica, "Ecological “law” turns out to just be the result of us fishing," 8 June 2018 That word was originally used to describe an early GMO tomato variety that contained a flounder gene. — Kevin Begos, Smithsonian, "The Quest to Grow the First Great American Wine Grape," 6 June 2018 But Virak Uy, a Cambodian refugee who is the director of the college’s new Program for Asian American Student Advancement, had no intention of letting her flounder. — Linda K. Wertheimer, New York Times, "At Middlesex Community College, Extra Help for Asian Students," 5 June 2018 The story’s momentum flounders occasionally, with a little too much of Bob spinning in circles waiting on Livy and a couple of wooden plot machinations, but the ending is pure enchantment. — Karen Valby, New York Times, "Turning Myths and Fairy Tales on Their Heads," 4 May 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

However, that effort floundered, until finally, in 2014, facing a lawsuit from safety advocates, transportation officials announced that backup cameras would be required in all passenger vehicles starting May 1. — Jaclyn Cosgrove, chicagotribune.com, "Backup camera in every new car puts safety at forefront," 14 May 2018 However, that effort floundered, until finally, in 2014, facing a lawsuit from safety advocates, transportation officials announced that backup cameras would be required in all passenger vehicles starting this week. — Jaclyn Cosgrove, latimes.com, "Want a car with a backup camera? Now they’re not just for pricier models, thanks to federal mandate," 3 May 2018 Viacom, meanwhile, floundered under its former CEO, Philippe Dauman, losing top talent and enduring steep ratings declines at its networks. — The Economist, "Viacom rejects a merger with CBS," 5 Apr. 2018 That business floundered as shipping demand stalled out. — Paul Page, WSJ, "China’s Bigger Trade Targets, Trucking’s Recruiting Shortfall and a Divide Over Emissions," 4 Apr. 2018 Other bills that floundered were those that would have required votes to be recorded in committees and on the House and Senate floors. — Judy L. Thomas, Laura Bauer And Hunter Woodall, kansascity, "Legislators made some noise in Topeka, but some still ask, 'Why so secret, Kansas?' | The Kansas City Star," 6 May 2018 Maybe O’Connor, Orlando’s third coach in four seasons, can change the direction of this floundering franchise. — Mike Bianchi, Pro Soccer USA, "James O’Connor is finally forcing Orlando City’s players to look in the mirror," 14 July 2018 That marks a turnabout from a few seasons ago, when auction houses could bank on selling their priciest pieces even if less-glitzy ones floundered. — Kelly Crow, WSJ, "Middle-Market Works Power New York Auctions," 19 May 2018 As the future of the traditional Berber region by Mount Boutmezguida floundered, a mathematician whose family came from the area had a eureka moment gleaned from living overseas – using fog to make water. — The Christian Science Monitor, "Fog catchers turn mist into water in the Moroccan mountains," 17 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'flounder.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.