as in afloat
riding upon the surface of a body of liquid
the wreckage remained floating for hours
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in hovering
to rest or move along the surface of a liquid or in the air
a canoe floating down the river particles of dust floating in the air
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in wandering
to move about from place to place aimlessly
lost touch with a childhood friend who spent much of his adult life floating from place to place
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of floating
Evan Osnos, The New Yorker, 26 Feb. 2023
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
Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 31 Mar. 2026
Officials said the objects, which appeared to be green triangles floating above a Navy ship, were likely drones.
—Jesus Mesa, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for floating
Adjective
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
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
Verb
Sea turtles and other marine animals can often confuse burst balloons floating in the water for jellyfish.
—Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 31 Mar. 2026
Officials said the objects, which appeared to be green triangles floating above a Navy ship, were likely drones.
—Jesus Mesa, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for floating
Recent Examples of Synonyms for floating
Adjective
-
After being blackballed from the finance sector, Coop resorts to burglarizing the homes of those in his social circle and pawning the items to stay afloat.—
Ryan Brennan,
Charlotte Observer,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Burglarizing the homes of those in his social circle and pawning the items just to stay afloat.—
Ryan Brennan
April 1,
Miami Herald,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
On platforms like PredictIt, traders have overwhelmingly favored Fuller, with confidence hovering near certainty levels in recent days.—
Zachary Bynum,
CBS News,
8 Apr. 2026
-
As of Tuesday, crude oil prices were hovering around $110 per barrel, according to Business Insider.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Wear it with sandals to the beach, throw on sneakers for wandering around town, and add a cardigan when the evening gets breezy.—
Chaise Sanders,
Travel + Leisure,
4 Apr. 2026
-
In addition to wandering tourists, expect to see theater crew, set designers, actors, and matronly sensei in pastel kimonos and big, pinned up hairdos haunting the vicinity.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Valid for British Isles Explorer itineraries sailing in 2026 or 2027, or for another itinerary and extension of equal or lesser value—within the same stateroom category or lower—during the same period, if the itinerary and extension offered is not available.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Another bulk carrier, the Mac Hope, identifying itself as sailing under Chinese ownership and with a Chinese crew, also transited the strait on Monday, MarineTraffic data show.—
Lucia I Suarez Sang,
CBS News,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The whole thing was a striking visual spectacle, too — waves of musicians rising from both sides, backup singers swaying and clapping, spotlights sweeping across the floor as a roaming camera zipped through the crowd like a drone that had just discovered country music.—
Theoden Janes,
Charlotte Observer,
6 Apr. 2026
-
Other tips include not leaving pet food outside, not touching or feeding free-roaming animals, keeping yard landscaping trimmed, keeping lids on trash containers, and closing home crawlspaces.—
Julie Sharp,
CBS News,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Authorities also suggest swimming near a lifeguard station.—
Ted Scouten,
CBS News,
4 Apr. 2026
-
Several prisoners attempted to escape by swimming to the mainland, but the attempts were mostly thwarted by the water's cold temperatures and strong current.—
Noe Padilla,
USA Today,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Conley noted that the car was drifting in its lane and had a license plate obscured.—
Jim Woods,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Even college football is drifting toward a more fragmented, paywalled future.—
Maxwell Adler,
Vanity Fair,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The series takes place on a yacht, cruising the coast of Malta.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
4 Apr. 2026
-
Legally recognizing lowriders is a big change from past decades, when cruising was prohibited in many cities across the state.—
James Taylor,
CBS News,
4 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Floating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/floating. Accessed 9 Apr. 2026.
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