floated

verb

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
as in wandered
to move about from place to place aimlessly lost touch with a childhood friend who spent much of his adult life floating from place to place

Synonyms & Similar 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 floated European leaders have even floated a boycott of FIFA events, while execs behind closed doors are plotting rival tournaments that could leave Infantino on the outside looking in before the next election cycle. — Alejandro Avila Outkick, FOXNews.com, 11 Aug. 2026 The notion that Ellison would exit California if the state AGs sued to block the Paramount-WBD merger was floated in an item last month by Semafor. — Todd Spangler, Variety, 11 Aug. 2026 Sydney Collins had floated a curling pass to Lema, who had come on as a substitute minutes earlier. — Michael Nowels, Mercury News, 10 Aug. 2026 Someone in Beijing floated convertibility-by-token, watched the implications propagate, and closed the file. — Zennon Kapron, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026 Hilton rejects the argument floated by some of his former colleagues that his scruples became a casualty of his ambition. — Ben Paviour, Sacbee.com, 10 Aug. 2026 Craig threw a pass to sophomore slot receiver Ed Small that was tightly contested, and the ball floated in the air off a deflection, landing in the hands of redshirt junior safety Jordan Lester. — Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Aug. 2026 The idea is floated that Alice married Hagood because her churchgoing parents would not have countenanced her going to Paris any other way; then again, photographs of him present a man of striking good looks. — Ian Penman, Harpers Magazine, 4 Aug. 2026 In the meeting today, attendees floated the idea of a future event related to the proposal, perhaps to continue discussing it. — Emily Forlini, Fortune, 4 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for floated
  1. hovered
  2. wandered
  3. sailed
  4. roamed
  5. swam
  6. drifted
  7. strolled
  8. cruised
Verb
  • Between 2002 to 2014, sequels hovered somewhere between 20 to 30 percent of the overall annual box office, with a few peaks and valleys in between.
    — Brian Welk, IndieWire, 10 Aug. 2026
  • As temperatures hovered around 80 degrees and few clouds obscured a bright blue sky, many people took the opportunity to enjoy a summer day last week at Montrose Beach.
    — Finnegan Belleau, Chicago Tribune, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of hovered
Verb
  • In both cases, a child that Tyler Boebert was watching wandered away from Congresswoman Boebert’s home, according to 9News.
    — Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 10 Aug. 2026
  • The Hunters and Firebells, who would play the following day, wandered the grounds in full uniform.
    — Jaclyn Licht, NPR, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of wandered
Verb
  • Some guests have sailed their own boats; few would be caught dead on a big ship.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Rutherford sailed past the Nordic countries of Norway and Sweden just a few days ago, and crossed into waters controlled by the Russian government this weekend.
    — Henry Larson, NPR, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of sailed
Verb
  • The animals roamed near the Amboseli National Park, which borders a farming and livestock area around 140 miles south of the capital Nairobi, according to the Associated Press.
    — Gina Kalsi, PEOPLE, 30 July 2026
  • This was a funhouse reality, in which children were lost and predators roamed, but through which white harts leapt through shafts of sunlight, songbirds trilled, and where honey and berries and acorns might be foraged for free.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 30 July 2026
Definition of roamed
Verb
  • During an altercation between the occupants of the boats, Simpson swam to the air compressor and turned it off, according to an affidavit.
    — Milena Malaver, Sun Sentinel, 5 Aug. 2026
  • Many swam several miles in the Mediterranean to avoid the heavily fortified border fence – leaving 88 people drowned in just 48 hours.
    — Kelsey Norman, The Conversation, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of swam
Verb
  • Starz shares, which have more than doubled in 2026 to date, drifted down 2% in pre-market trading.
    — Dade Hayes, Deadline, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Penix nearly tossed another touchdown to receiver Jahan Dotson, who made the catch right along the back line but drifted out of bounds on his way down.
    — Daniel Flick, AJC.com, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of drifted
Verb
  • Earlier this month, Eva Longoria strolled through the streets of Spain in a black and white dress that truly has no limits.
    — Alyssa Grabinski, PEOPLE, 27 July 2026
  • Harry and Archie strolled ahead of Lilibet, who wore a floral dress with metallic sandals while touting a tiny purse.
    — Hannah Malach, InStyle, 23 July 2026
Definition of strolled
Verb
  • The Red Sox had cruised to a 13-1 win on Friday night, rolling to that victory one night after rallying five times against the White Sox in a 13-inning marathon.
    — Curt Anderson, New York Times, 9 Aug. 2026
  • Blakely cruised through her difficult release moves, closing her effort with a perfectly stuck dismount and a beaming smile.
    — Caroline Price, Forbes.com, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of cruised

Browse Nearby Words

float
floated
floating
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Cite this Entry

“Floated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/floated. Accessed 14 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of floated for Spanish Speakers

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