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
Shaoyu Yuan, The Conversation, 5 Nov. 2025
The question has extra resonance at a time when local deficits and federal cuts are forcing leaders to make tough choices about which programs stay afloat.
—Blake Nelson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Nov. 2025
Even the fact that Refiberd doesn’t need a lot of financing to keep itself afloat because of the nature of its technology is a nice bit of happenstance.
—Jasmin Malik Chua, Sourcing Journal, 31 Oct. 2025
The team is off to a slow start offensively, but Jalen Brunson is putting up big numbers to keep them afloat.
—Robert Marvi, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2025
Leo, Kate, and Zane who keep the drama afloat.
—John Ortved, Vogue, 29 Oct. 2025
Some controllers are left with no choice but to accumulate debt or make difficult financial decisions to stay afloat.
—Alexandra Skores, CNN Money, 29 Oct. 2025
According to Bookman, his partner was struggling with substance abuse and was barely able to stay afloat, even with the success of his invention.
—Otto Rabe, Cincinnati Enquirer, 24 Oct. 2025
Earlier this month, the Department of Agriculture used tax revenue to allocate $300 million to keep the program — known in full as the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children — afloat.
—Aria Bendix, NBC news, 23 Oct. 2025
Matthew Fairburn, New York Times, 9 Nov. 2025
That miracle has yet to reach Elias, who’s struggling to stay afloat and maintain his entrepreneurial ambitions.
—Max Klaver, Miami Herald, 8 Nov. 2025
Even so, the project’s visual craft keeps its surprisingly spiritual finale afloat.
—Kambole Campbell, IndieWire, 7 Nov. 2025
Fortunately, its moving parts are working cleanly enough to keep the magic trick afloat — for now.
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 7 Nov. 2025
Right now, local giving is keeping many food banks and aid organizations afloat, according to Greene.
—Sophie Caldwell, CNBC, 7 Nov. 2025
The administration had argued against using emergency funding to keep the food assistance programs afloat through the shutdown.
—Maia Pandey, jsonline.com, 6 Nov. 2025
Elizabeth Heffron and William DeLeo, who appeared to be walking on a pier, spotted the raccoon trying to stay afloat in the waters below them, according to Associated Press.
—Kimberlee Speakman, PEOPLE, 5 Nov. 2025
All eyes were on the Cowboys entering this game after that brutal loss at Mile High, but the Cardinals also came into this game desperately needing a win to not only get the vibes high in the locker room again but keep the season afloat.
—Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 4 Nov. 2025
Adjective
The new plan is cognizant of the need to maintain a strong manufacturing base, particularly among beleaguered industrial farms and other older industries struggling to stay afloat.
—Shaoyu Yuan, The Conversation, 5 Nov. 2025
The question has extra resonance at a time when local deficits and federal cuts are forcing leaders to make tough choices about which programs stay afloat.
—Blake Nelson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Nov. 2025
Even the fact that Refiberd doesn’t need a lot of financing to keep itself afloat because of the nature of its technology is a nice bit of happenstance.
—Jasmin Malik Chua, Sourcing Journal, 31 Oct. 2025
The team is off to a slow start offensively, but Jalen Brunson is putting up big numbers to keep them afloat.
—Robert Marvi, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2025
Leo, Kate, and Zane who keep the drama afloat.
—John Ortved, Vogue, 29 Oct. 2025
Some controllers are left with no choice but to accumulate debt or make difficult financial decisions to stay afloat.
—Alexandra Skores, CNN Money, 29 Oct. 2025
According to Bookman, his partner was struggling with substance abuse and was barely able to stay afloat, even with the success of his invention.
—Otto Rabe, Cincinnati Enquirer, 24 Oct. 2025
Earlier this month, the Department of Agriculture used tax revenue to allocate $300 million to keep the program — known in full as the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children — afloat.
—Aria Bendix, NBC news, 23 Oct. 2025
Adverb
Obviously, injuries are playing a major factor, but will the Sabres even be able to stay afloat until the lineup is fully healthy?
—Matthew Fairburn, New York Times, 9 Nov. 2025
That miracle has yet to reach Elias, who’s struggling to stay afloat and maintain his entrepreneurial ambitions.
—Max Klaver, Miami Herald, 8 Nov. 2025
Even so, the project’s visual craft keeps its surprisingly spiritual finale afloat.
—Kambole Campbell, IndieWire, 7 Nov. 2025
Fortunately, its moving parts are working cleanly enough to keep the magic trick afloat — for now.
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 7 Nov. 2025
Right now, local giving is keeping many food banks and aid organizations afloat, according to Greene.
—Sophie Caldwell, CNBC, 7 Nov. 2025
The administration had argued against using emergency funding to keep the food assistance programs afloat through the shutdown.
—Maia Pandey, jsonline.com, 6 Nov. 2025
Elizabeth Heffron and William DeLeo, who appeared to be walking on a pier, spotted the raccoon trying to stay afloat in the waters below them, according to Associated Press.
—Kimberlee Speakman, PEOPLE, 5 Nov. 2025
All eyes were on the Cowboys entering this game after that brutal loss at Mile High, but the Cardinals also came into this game desperately needing a win to not only get the vibes high in the locker room again but keep the season afloat.
—Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 4 Nov. 2025
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
-
It’s primarily sponsored by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, known as the Public Investment Fund, which is a key pillar of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s plans to pursue megaprojects and investments abroad.—
Seung Min Kim,
Fortune,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Protecting public health abroad benefits Americans.—
Robin Lin Miller,
The Conversation,
5 Nov. 2025
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 research was thrilling and of great interest to archaeologists everywhere, according to Stephen Houston, a professor of anthropology at Brown University in Rhode Island.—
Katie Hunt,
CNN Money,
5 Nov. 2025
-
Our assignment everywhere is to send the strongest fighters for the working class wherever possible.—
Domenico Montanaro,
NPR,
5 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Afloat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/afloat. Accessed 11 Nov. 2025.
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