1
: buoyed on or in a fluid
2
: located out of the normal position
a floating kidney
3
a
: continually drifting or changing position
the floating population
b
: not presently committed or invested
floating capital
c
: short-term and usually not funded
floating debt
d
: having no fixed value or rate
floating currencies
floating interest rates
4
: connected or constructed so as to operate and adjust smoothly
a floating axle
Examples of floating in a Sentence
the wreckage remained floating for hours
Recent Examples on the Web
Netanyahu said other countries, including France, were creating floating and field hospitals to take in injured and sick patients.
—
Doug Cameron, WSJ, 12 Nov. 2023
The United States shot down three more floating objects in the following days, then announced that there was no sign that any of them were connected to China.
—Evan Osnos, The New Yorker, 26 Feb. 2023
Expensive: Price tag is two to three times the cost of a non-floating structure.
—J Harris, Discover Magazine, 31 Mar. 2016
This tablet also comes with a full-sized floating keyboard that resembles Apple’s iPad Air and Pro Magic Keyboard.
—Patrick Moorhead, Forbes, 11 Jan. 2023
Outlet glaciers generally flow into an ice shelf, a floating expanse of ice reaching over the water.
—Marissa Grunes, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Jan. 2023
In the heart of the boat, a central stairwell featuring a striking bronze sculpture of a kneeling man anchors the floating, stainless-steel staircase.
—Julia Zaltzman, Robb Report, 6 Jan. 2023
Two sensors have been attached to a floating weather buoy at Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary near Alpena, Michigan.
—John Flesher, BostonGlobe.com, 19 Dec. 2022
But instead of having its tower embedded directly into the ground or the seafloor, a floating wind turbine sits on a platform with mooring lines, such as chains or ropes, that connect to anchors in the seabed below.
—Matthew Lackner, Fortune, 9 Dec. 2022
Doug Cameron, WSJ, 12 Nov. 2023
The United States shot down three more floating objects in the following days, then announced that there was no sign that any of them were connected to China.
—Evan Osnos, The New Yorker, 26 Feb. 2023
Expensive: Price tag is two to three times the cost of a non-floating structure.
—J Harris, Discover Magazine, 31 Mar. 2016
This tablet also comes with a full-sized floating keyboard that resembles Apple’s iPad Air and Pro Magic Keyboard.
—Patrick Moorhead, Forbes, 11 Jan. 2023
Outlet glaciers generally flow into an ice shelf, a floating expanse of ice reaching over the water.
—Marissa Grunes, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Jan. 2023
In the heart of the boat, a central stairwell featuring a striking bronze sculpture of a kneeling man anchors the floating, stainless-steel staircase.
—Julia Zaltzman, Robb Report, 6 Jan. 2023
Two sensors have been attached to a floating weather buoy at Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary near Alpena, Michigan.
—John Flesher, BostonGlobe.com, 19 Dec. 2022
But instead of having its tower embedded directly into the ground or the seafloor, a floating wind turbine sits on a platform with mooring lines, such as chains or ropes, that connect to anchors in the seabed below.
—Matthew Lackner, Fortune, 9 Dec. 2022
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'floating.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1600, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing floating
Dictionary Entries Near floating
Cite this Entry
“Floating.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/floating. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy Citation
Medical Definition
floating
adjective
float·ing
ˈflōt-iŋ 
: located out of the normal position or abnormally movable
a floating kidney
Legal Definition
floating
adjective
float·ing
1
: not presently committed or invested
floating capital
2
: short-term and usually not funded
floating debt
3
: having no fixed value or rate
floating currencies
floating interest rates
More from Merriam-Webster on floating
Nglish: Translation of floating for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of floating for Arabic Speakers
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