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
David Goldman, CNN Money, 17 June 2026
If there’s any big bugaboo in his profile, he can be beaten by higher-end velocity, but his ability to adjust to secondary offerings keeps him afloat.
—Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 10 June 2026
The man, who has not been identified, was last seen in the water after assisting a woman who had been struggling to stay afloat.
—Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 9 June 2026
The Yankees haven’t always stayed afloat when Judge gets hurt; the 2023 season is a prime example.
—Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 8 June 2026
Myron reached the man and kept him afloat until help arrived, the wife said.
—Kelly McGreal, FOXNews.com, 3 June 2026
The artist behind the series descended into poverty following the breakdown that left her unable to paint; years later her teen daughter, Indigo, herself a gifted artist, is barely keeping the two of them afloat.
—Literary Hub, 2 June 2026
The Thunder need to win the 3-point battle and his big shooting nights have been what’s kept them afloat.
—The Athletic Nba Staff, New York Times, 29 May 2026
Like many restaurants during the COVID-19 pandemic, Verdes El Ranchero depended on the neighborhood to keep it afloat.
—Ashley MacKin Solomon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 May 2026
Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 19 June 2026
During those early days of the pandemic, the building’s then-landlord allowed the company to pay only half of its rent, a move Walsh credits with keeping the theater afloat.
—Ryan P. C. Trimble, Chicago Tribune, 17 June 2026
Co-directed by Tseng Ying-ting and produced by DaMou Entertainment, the series centers on a young man’s effort to uncover the truth about his father’s death while keeping the family restaurant afloat.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 17 June 2026
Remain calm and do not exhaust yourself and stay afloat while waiting for help.
—Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 12 June 2026
Season 1 documented the family's efforts to keep their business afloat amid financial uncertainty and growing tensions within the family.
—Deirdre Durkan, PEOPLE, 12 June 2026
Yet the current system leaves parents struggling to afford care, providers struggling to stay afloat and workers struggling to remain in the profession.
—Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 11 June 2026
Although not as wealthy as Jackson, Jones has also dug deep into his own pockets to keep his campaign afloat, lending it more than $16 million from his family’s fortune.
—Shannon McCaffrey, AJC.com, 10 June 2026
Similarly, the Twins found a way to stay afloat despite key injuries, bolstered by stout pitching from a talented starting rotation.
—Dan Hayes, New York Times, 10 June 2026
Adjective
But those are optimistic goals for a regime that has proven unable or unwilling to keep its own economy afloat.
—David Goldman, CNN Money, 17 June 2026
If there’s any big bugaboo in his profile, he can be beaten by higher-end velocity, but his ability to adjust to secondary offerings keeps him afloat.
—Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 10 June 2026
The man, who has not been identified, was last seen in the water after assisting a woman who had been struggling to stay afloat.
—Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 9 June 2026
The Yankees haven’t always stayed afloat when Judge gets hurt; the 2023 season is a prime example.
—Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 8 June 2026
Myron reached the man and kept him afloat until help arrived, the wife said.
—Kelly McGreal, FOXNews.com, 3 June 2026
The artist behind the series descended into poverty following the breakdown that left her unable to paint; years later her teen daughter, Indigo, herself a gifted artist, is barely keeping the two of them afloat.
—Literary Hub, 2 June 2026
The Thunder need to win the 3-point battle and his big shooting nights have been what’s kept them afloat.
—The Athletic Nba Staff, New York Times, 29 May 2026
Like many restaurants during the COVID-19 pandemic, Verdes El Ranchero depended on the neighborhood to keep it afloat.
—Ashley MacKin Solomon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 May 2026
Adverb
At the time, the addition looked like a practical move for a club trying to stay afloat while waiting for healthier options to return.
—Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 19 June 2026
During those early days of the pandemic, the building’s then-landlord allowed the company to pay only half of its rent, a move Walsh credits with keeping the theater afloat.
—Ryan P. C. Trimble, Chicago Tribune, 17 June 2026
Co-directed by Tseng Ying-ting and produced by DaMou Entertainment, the series centers on a young man’s effort to uncover the truth about his father’s death while keeping the family restaurant afloat.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 17 June 2026
Remain calm and do not exhaust yourself and stay afloat while waiting for help.
—Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 12 June 2026
Season 1 documented the family's efforts to keep their business afloat amid financial uncertainty and growing tensions within the family.
—Deirdre Durkan, PEOPLE, 12 June 2026
Yet the current system leaves parents struggling to afford care, providers struggling to stay afloat and workers struggling to remain in the profession.
—Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 11 June 2026
Although not as wealthy as Jackson, Jones has also dug deep into his own pockets to keep his campaign afloat, lending it more than $16 million from his family’s fortune.
—Shannon McCaffrey, AJC.com, 10 June 2026
Similarly, the Twins found a way to stay afloat despite key injuries, bolstered by stout pitching from a talented starting rotation.
—Dan Hayes, New York Times, 10 June 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
-
The plan includes more space for private businesses, imports and exports without state intermediation, free hiring of personnel, authorization for private banks and investment by Cubans abroad.—
Andrea Rodríguez,
Los Angeles Times,
20 June 2026
-
Sentiments toward the United States may be shifting among LGBTQ+ people, a report published Saturday shows—with the change registering both at home and abroad.—
Rebecca Schneid,
Time,
20 June 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
-
So Bauer heads back to Mexico City, continuing a journey that has taken him everywhere except the bigs.—
Alejandro Avila OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
23 June 2026
-
The bacteria that cause tetanus are everywhere in our environment and cannot be eliminated, which is why staying up to date on vaccination is so important.—
Faye Chiu,
CNN Money,
23 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Afloat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/afloat. Accessed 24 Jun. 2026.
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