as in floating
riding upon the surface of a body of liquid
the boat can't stay afloat much longer
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in abroad
Related Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of afloat
C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 31 Jan. 2026
In 2018, Chicago attorney Len Goodman and real estate developer Elzie Higginbottom bought the Reader from the Chicago Sun-Times for $1 and the assumption of debt, rescuing it from dissolution and pumping more than $1 million each into the alternative newspaper to keep it afloat.
—Robert Channick, Chicago Tribune, 30 Jan. 2026
King suggested that a short-term continuing resolution could keep FEMA and other agencies afloat.
—Garrett Downs,emily Wilkins, CNBC, 28 Jan. 2026
Now the Warriors need Curry to be that much better over the second half of the season to stay afloat.
—Law Murray, New York Times, 26 Jan. 2026
The bakery’s grand opening was delayed for weeks due to unlicensed contractor work that left the owner thousands of dollars in debt and scrambling to stay afloat.
—Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, jsonline.com, 23 Jan. 2026
Although the portion of the aircraft that first hit the water suffered severe damage and ruptured, allowing water to enter the cabin, the plane remained afloat, in part due to its partially empty fuel tanks, per Brittancia.
—Emily Blackwood, PEOPLE, 15 Jan. 2026
Without foot traffic and visitors, even the best restaurants and hardest-working teams struggle to stay afloat.
—Jon Weber, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Jan. 2026
The early, original WNBA players were trying just to launch a pro league and keep it afloat.
—Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 15 Jan. 2026
Maya Singer, Vogue, 1 Feb. 2026
However, the Nuggets got key performances from young players Watson and Jalen Pickett, as well as excellent play from Murray, a likely All-Star, to keep the Nuggets afloat.
—Eric Koreen, New York Times, 31 Jan. 2026
Since taking control of the Reader, Noisy Creek has installed longtime Index Newspapers executive Robert Crocker as interim publisher, and injected capital to keep the Chicago alt-weekly afloat.
—Robert Channick, Chicago Tribune, 30 Jan. 2026
If anything, Marathon surging would very much help Destiny by keeping Bungie afloat and relevant among Sony studios.
—Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 30 Jan. 2026
Now, dedicated fans and customers of the longtime restaurant known for its unique take on Midwestern tacos are rallying behind the beloved spot aiming to keep the business afloat in the midst of the wreckage that has now temporarily closed its doors.
—Jenna Ebbers, Kansas City Star, 22 Jan. 2026
But now, Rey is calling on donations to keep the school afloat.
—Rebecca Noel, Charlotte Observer, 22 Jan. 2026
This is the simplest, lowest risk option for Netflix, which is to just let TCM be — don’t mess with it, keep the cable channel afloat, let Marty, PTA, and Spielberg keep curating the programming, and just don’t make any enemies.
—Brian Welk, IndieWire, 21 Jan. 2026
Democrats quickly intervened via pen-and-paper to keep the operation afloat.
—Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 21 Jan. 2026
Adjective
Utah answered behind Keyonte George and Kyle Filipowski, who found a rhythm of their own, but Dëmin’s shot-making and a balanced Nets bench effort kept Brooklyn afloat.
—C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 31 Jan. 2026
In 2018, Chicago attorney Len Goodman and real estate developer Elzie Higginbottom bought the Reader from the Chicago Sun-Times for $1 and the assumption of debt, rescuing it from dissolution and pumping more than $1 million each into the alternative newspaper to keep it afloat.
—Robert Channick, Chicago Tribune, 30 Jan. 2026
King suggested that a short-term continuing resolution could keep FEMA and other agencies afloat.
—Garrett Downs,emily Wilkins, CNBC, 28 Jan. 2026
Now the Warriors need Curry to be that much better over the second half of the season to stay afloat.
—Law Murray, New York Times, 26 Jan. 2026
The bakery’s grand opening was delayed for weeks due to unlicensed contractor work that left the owner thousands of dollars in debt and scrambling to stay afloat.
—Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, jsonline.com, 23 Jan. 2026
Although the portion of the aircraft that first hit the water suffered severe damage and ruptured, allowing water to enter the cabin, the plane remained afloat, in part due to its partially empty fuel tanks, per Brittancia.
—Emily Blackwood, PEOPLE, 15 Jan. 2026
Without foot traffic and visitors, even the best restaurants and hardest-working teams struggle to stay afloat.
—Jon Weber, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Jan. 2026
The early, original WNBA players were trying just to launch a pro league and keep it afloat.
—Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 15 Jan. 2026
Adverb
Tessa Newsom, née Menzies, scrambled to keep the family afloat.
—Maya Singer, Vogue, 1 Feb. 2026
However, the Nuggets got key performances from young players Watson and Jalen Pickett, as well as excellent play from Murray, a likely All-Star, to keep the Nuggets afloat.
—Eric Koreen, New York Times, 31 Jan. 2026
Since taking control of the Reader, Noisy Creek has installed longtime Index Newspapers executive Robert Crocker as interim publisher, and injected capital to keep the Chicago alt-weekly afloat.
—Robert Channick, Chicago Tribune, 30 Jan. 2026
If anything, Marathon surging would very much help Destiny by keeping Bungie afloat and relevant among Sony studios.
—Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 30 Jan. 2026
Now, dedicated fans and customers of the longtime restaurant known for its unique take on Midwestern tacos are rallying behind the beloved spot aiming to keep the business afloat in the midst of the wreckage that has now temporarily closed its doors.
—Jenna Ebbers, Kansas City Star, 22 Jan. 2026
But now, Rey is calling on donations to keep the school afloat.
—Rebecca Noel, Charlotte Observer, 22 Jan. 2026
This is the simplest, lowest risk option for Netflix, which is to just let TCM be — don’t mess with it, keep the cable channel afloat, let Marty, PTA, and Spielberg keep curating the programming, and just don’t make any enemies.
—Brian Welk, IndieWire, 21 Jan. 2026
Democrats quickly intervened via pen-and-paper to keep the operation afloat.
—Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 21 Jan. 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
-
At the State Department, the shutdown will not have a significant effect for the general public, in the United States or abroad.—
Meg Kinnard,
Chicago Tribune,
31 Jan. 2026
-
The allegations span from 2016 until 2022 during which Reina is accused of using his position to divert funds to fund lavish trips abroad, pay his children’s tuition and extensive renovations to his West Sacramento home, prosecutors said in a statement Thursday.—
Ishani Desai,
Sacbee.com,
31 Jan. 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
-
These modern industrialists understand that intelligence embedded everywhere must be guided wisely everywhere.—
Phil Kafarakis,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Utica greens is a classic Italian American dish that goes by that name everywhere except Utica itself.—
Shilpa Uskokovic,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
27 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Afloat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/afloat. Accessed 4 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
