floated

Definition of floatednext
past tense of float
1
as in hovered
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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2

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 floated Proposals being floated by DFL senators and representatives include a bill to give Minnesotans more power to sue federal agents for constitutional violations, a local ban on masks for federal agents, and protections against immigration enforcement in locations like schools, hospitals and day cares. Alex Derosier, Twin Cities, 15 Feb. 2026 Trump recently floated a new June deadline for an agreement to be made to end the war. Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 14 Feb. 2026 The Dragon capsule then floated free to begin a 2-day trip to the International Space Station. Josh Dinner, Space.com, 14 Feb. 2026 Tillis has also rejected an idea, which Bessent floated to Republican senators this week, to move the Powell investigation from the DOJ to the banking panel. Kevin Breuninger, CNBC, 13 Feb. 2026 In response to worries floated by some members of Congress, Freedom 250 spokesperson Rachel Reisner told USA TODAY the group had not and was not taking foreign donations. Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 12 Feb. 2026 Council members also floated the idea of posting signs in public spaces informing immigrants of their rights. Madison Iszler, San Antonio Express-News, 12 Feb. 2026 In Tennyson’s youth, geologists amassed evidence in support of the proposition, first floated in the previous century, that the age of the earth was not measurable in the familiar and Biblically sanctioned sum of thousands of years but, rather, in untold billions. Kathryn Schulz, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026 He was drilled by Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon on his second interception as Witherspoon hit Maye’s arm and the ball floated out of his hands and right to Nwosu, who had nothing but open field in front of him. Greg Dudek, Hartford Courant, 9 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for floated
Verb
  • The lead hovered around that level for the remainder of the contest before the final horn heralded the Gophers’ 20th victory of the season.
    Staff Report, Twin Cities, 16 Feb. 2026
  • As per a press release, the discovery began with a basilica, as archaeologists hovered around this construction from the 4th century.
    Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 14 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Afterward, as the home stood unguarded, reporters, photographers and others wandered the property, walking to the front door and capturing video of blood drops along the porch.
    Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 14 Feb. 2026
  • Sun Ra’s intro wandered, appealingly arrhythmic.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 13 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • There were no injuries reported or marine pollution observed, and the ship safely sailed into port with the help of four tugboats, according to the Hellenic Coast Guard.
    Nathan Diller, USA Today, 16 Feb. 2026
  • Reddick made a huge surge with an assist from teammate Riley Herbst, made contact with Elliott that caused Elliott to crash, then sailed past to give Jordan a victory in NASCAR's biggest event of the year.
    CBS News, CBS News, 16 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • From an animal that once roamed across a wide swath of eastern Australia to a population small enough to fit in a single room — the collapse was staggering.
    Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 13 Feb. 2026
  • In early 2025, right-wing influencers roamed downtown Nuuk, handing out $100 bills to children and telling them to pose for cameras while wearing free MAGA swag.
    Ken Harbaugh, The Atlantic, 9 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Last week, a 13-year-old boy swam for hours to shore to get help for his mother and siblings after the family was swept out to sea.
    Maureen O'Hare, CNN Money, 7 Feb. 2026
  • Owen also swam on the winning 200 medley and 400 free relay teams.
    Todd Holcomb, AJC.com, 6 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Net-a-porter and Mr Porter veterans Heather Kaminetsky and Toby Bateman have assembled their teams, set their strategies and begun rewriting the sites’ music for a new generation, and for one-time fans who may have drifted away.
    Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 19 Feb. 2026
  • The Big Ten drifted from Chicago to Omaha.
    Jason Kirk, New York Times, 18 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Chinese street fairs in Moscow People sampled Chinese cuisine from stalls and strolled along snowy streets decorated with red lanterns and dragons as two weeks of events got underway Monday at various venues in the Russian capital.
    Ken Moritsugu, Los Angeles Times, 17 Feb. 2026
  • People sampled Chinese cuisine from stalls and strolled along snowy streets decorated with red lanterns and dragons as two weeks of events got underway Monday at various venues in the Russian capital.
    ABC News, ABC News, 16 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • The streets through which Rebecca and her friends cruised on their way to partyin’, partyin’ looked like a typical Orange County neighborhood.
    Tribune News Service, Baltimore Sun, 13 Feb. 2026
  • Sure looks like it — since nobody with under 200 wins has even been a serious threat to get elected since Koufax cruised in, on the first ballot, in 1972.
    Jayson Stark, New York Times, 10 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Floated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/floated. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.

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