as in floating
riding upon the surface of a body of liquid
the boat can't stay afloat much longer
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as in abroad
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Recent Examples of afloat
Noelle Harff, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Mar. 2026
Especially for the wholesale buying fashion designers who may keep this passion project afloat.
—Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 18 Mar. 2026
The roadside restaurant stayed afloat first through the persistence of locals and, over time, thanks to business from eager tourists seeking the freshest fish.
—Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 12 Mar. 2026
The case involves the recent indictment of Nye County Republican Commissioner Leonardo Blundo, who is accused of committing fraud against a government program that gave small businesses loans to keep them afloat during the COVID-19 pandemic.
—Sarah N. Lynch, CBS News, 12 Mar. 2026
But for all the strong words, analysts say the effort appears aimed at keeping the economy afloat rather than boosting it.
—Ken Moritsugu, Los Angeles Times, 9 Mar. 2026
Cars were still given as parting gifts for retired employees, and hundreds of thousands of dollars continued to be spent on promotional events and videos — all while membership continued its downward spiral and the union’s pension fund struggled to stay afloat.
—Judy L. Thomas, Kansas City Star, 9 Mar. 2026
The irregular migrants, asylum seekers, refugees and undocumented migrants, precariously – and often fatally – trying to reach Europe in anything afloat, desperate in search of a better life.
—Thinus Ferreira, Variety, 6 Mar. 2026
In December, Wisconsin Watch reported on an Appleton technical charter school that struggles to manage high program costs and secure donations to stay afloat.
—Miranda Dunlap, jsonline.com, 6 Mar. 2026
Alaa Elassar, CNN Money, 21 Mar. 2026
Kael Combs kept the Hawkeyes stay afloat with 15 points and Alvaro Foigueiras came off the bench to score 14.
—ABC News, 20 Mar. 2026
While the Bay Area has mobilized around a state loan and a regional sales tax measure to keep its system afloat, no comparable effort exists for the rail networks serving San Diego and Orange counties.
—Catherine Blakespear, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Mar. 2026
The first Boxster was little loved by Porsche purists at the time, but the mid-engine roadster—which helped keep the company afloat during dire times—was in actuality a delight to drive.
—Will Sabel Courtney, Robb Report, 19 Mar. 2026
However, Hulu stays afloat by leveraging the vast library of former 21st Century Fox content that doesn't fit Disney+'s more family-friendly profile.
—Jordan Minor, PC Magazine, 19 Mar. 2026
But the money that kept some centers afloat during that time has now been spent.
—Beth Kania-Gosche, The Conversation, 19 Mar. 2026
As the partial government shutdown continues and Transportation Security Administration officers work without pay, many are struggling to stay afloat financially.
—Zach Wichter, USA Today, 12 Mar. 2026
Romeo Doubs signs in New England Doubs isn’t an alpha receiver, but New England was one of the best possible landing spots to keep his fantasy value afloat.
—Jake Ciely, New York Times, 12 Mar. 2026
Adjective
While startups await the president’s signature and agencies anticipate the bill’s new provisions, researchers are trying to stay afloat, some furloughing scientists until the funding becomes available.
—Noelle Harff, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Mar. 2026
Especially for the wholesale buying fashion designers who may keep this passion project afloat.
—Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 18 Mar. 2026
The roadside restaurant stayed afloat first through the persistence of locals and, over time, thanks to business from eager tourists seeking the freshest fish.
—Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 12 Mar. 2026
The case involves the recent indictment of Nye County Republican Commissioner Leonardo Blundo, who is accused of committing fraud against a government program that gave small businesses loans to keep them afloat during the COVID-19 pandemic.
—Sarah N. Lynch, CBS News, 12 Mar. 2026
But for all the strong words, analysts say the effort appears aimed at keeping the economy afloat rather than boosting it.
—Ken Moritsugu, Los Angeles Times, 9 Mar. 2026
Cars were still given as parting gifts for retired employees, and hundreds of thousands of dollars continued to be spent on promotional events and videos — all while membership continued its downward spiral and the union’s pension fund struggled to stay afloat.
—Judy L. Thomas, Kansas City Star, 9 Mar. 2026
The irregular migrants, asylum seekers, refugees and undocumented migrants, precariously – and often fatally – trying to reach Europe in anything afloat, desperate in search of a better life.
—Thinus Ferreira, Variety, 6 Mar. 2026
In December, Wisconsin Watch reported on an Appleton technical charter school that struggles to manage high program costs and secure donations to stay afloat.
—Miranda Dunlap, jsonline.com, 6 Mar. 2026
Adverb
Unpaid Transportation Security Administration workers are struggling to stay afloat — and on the job — amid a partial government shutdown that has frustrated travelers inching through security lines that stretch for hours, with wait times only expected to worsen this weekend.
—Alaa Elassar, CNN Money, 21 Mar. 2026
Kael Combs kept the Hawkeyes stay afloat with 15 points and Alvaro Foigueiras came off the bench to score 14.
—ABC News, 20 Mar. 2026
While the Bay Area has mobilized around a state loan and a regional sales tax measure to keep its system afloat, no comparable effort exists for the rail networks serving San Diego and Orange counties.
—Catherine Blakespear, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Mar. 2026
The first Boxster was little loved by Porsche purists at the time, but the mid-engine roadster—which helped keep the company afloat during dire times—was in actuality a delight to drive.
—Will Sabel Courtney, Robb Report, 19 Mar. 2026
However, Hulu stays afloat by leveraging the vast library of former 21st Century Fox content that doesn't fit Disney+'s more family-friendly profile.
—Jordan Minor, PC Magazine, 19 Mar. 2026
But the money that kept some centers afloat during that time has now been spent.
—Beth Kania-Gosche, The Conversation, 19 Mar. 2026
As the partial government shutdown continues and Transportation Security Administration officers work without pay, many are struggling to stay afloat financially.
—Zach Wichter, USA Today, 12 Mar. 2026
Romeo Doubs signs in New England Doubs isn’t an alpha receiver, but New England was one of the best possible landing spots to keep his fantasy value afloat.
—Jake Ciely, New York Times, 12 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for afloat
Adjective
-
Companies with a smaller market value generally tend to have more floating rate debt than larger businesses.—
Lisa Kailai Han,
CNBC,
11 Sep. 2025
-
Social media posts and years of reviewing cookie-cutter luxury hotels had conditioned me to equate floating breakfasts, monogrammed accessories, butler service, and aromatherapy menus as markers of a dreamy luxury vacation.—
Katherine Alex Beaven,
Travel + Leisure,
22 Oct. 2024
Adverb
-
Remittances, known as remesas, serve as a critical lifeline for many families on the island, allowing Cubans abroad to send money, food and medicine back home.—
Isabel Rosales,
CNN Money,
21 Mar. 2026
-
The deployment comes as the Guard balances competing demands at home and abroad.—
Steven Beynon,
ABC News,
20 Mar. 2026
Adverb
-
And while the absence of a hometown rooting interest obviously won’t translate into a total baseball blackout hereabouts, only someone who’s been clobbered over the head by Wonderboy might expect to see the World Series ratings reach the heights of last year.—
Anthony Crupi,
Sportico.com,
10 Oct. 2025
-
This time the recipient is area rancher Benjamin Bonney (Dermot Mulroney), who along with his thuggish sons is suspected of murdering anyone hereabouts who won’t surrender their own land to him.—
Dennis Harvey,
Variety,
10 Jan. 2025
Adverb
-
The thing is an almost-four-hour-long continuous explosion — actors dancing, grappling, and hurling furniture; the director present onstage ripping pieces out of the set; paint and blood and flowers and feathers everywhere.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
23 Mar. 2026
-
While drivers everywhere can’t help but notice how sharply pump prices have risen, the trouble on the farm goes beyond gassing up the F-150.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
23 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Afloat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/afloat. Accessed 26 Mar. 2026.
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