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
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Recent Examples of floated
Arches of black and yellow balloons floated over tables set with meals in plastic boxes.
—
Molly Fischer, New Yorker, 11 May 2026
While past presidents and lawmakers have occasionally floated gas tax holidays, a suspension of the tax has never passed in Congress.
—Joey Garrison, USA Today, 11 May 2026
Like the last time this was floated with Biden, the president can’t act on this move alone, as Congress holds the power of the purse.
—Jake Angelo, Fortune, 11 May 2026
The idea of including the Stars has periodically been floated at the state Capitol over the past couple of years, aligned with the Democrats’ theme of bringing equity to any stadium-building conversation.
—Jeremy Gorner, Chicago Tribune, 11 May 2026
Trump has previously floated annexing other territories, including Canada and Greenland.
—Rena Rowe, The Washington Examiner, 11 May 2026
The 21-year-old top prospect floated around the bases, gave emphatic high fives to Adames and Matt Chapman, and provided the Giants with a momentary spark in what was a one-run game at the time.
—Andrew Baggarly, New York Times, 10 May 2026
Giuliani floated the idea of changing the law to run for a third term or serving an extra three months to help with a post-9/11 recovery.
—Los Angeles Times, 4 May 2026
Bondholders weren't on board and floated a counter proposal.
—Leslie Josephs, CNBC, 4 May 2026
Molly Fischer, New Yorker, 11 May 2026
While past presidents and lawmakers have occasionally floated gas tax holidays, a suspension of the tax has never passed in Congress.
—Joey Garrison, USA Today, 11 May 2026
Like the last time this was floated with Biden, the president can’t act on this move alone, as Congress holds the power of the purse.
—Jake Angelo, Fortune, 11 May 2026
The idea of including the Stars has periodically been floated at the state Capitol over the past couple of years, aligned with the Democrats’ theme of bringing equity to any stadium-building conversation.
—Jeremy Gorner, Chicago Tribune, 11 May 2026
Trump has previously floated annexing other territories, including Canada and Greenland.
—Rena Rowe, The Washington Examiner, 11 May 2026
The 21-year-old top prospect floated around the bases, gave emphatic high fives to Adames and Matt Chapman, and provided the Giants with a momentary spark in what was a one-run game at the time.
—Andrew Baggarly, New York Times, 10 May 2026
Giuliani floated the idea of changing the law to run for a third term or serving an extra three months to help with a post-9/11 recovery.
—Los Angeles Times, 4 May 2026
Bondholders weren't on board and floated a counter proposal.
—Leslie Josephs, CNBC, 4 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for floated
Verb
-
Yet hotel occupancy rates that year hovered at a dismal 30 percent.—
New York Times,
New York Times,
16 May 2026
-
That sense of momentum hovered over the entire fair.—
Daniel Cassady,
ARTnews.com,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
Emma Bailey Leary, who manages events for Bart’s Books, the town’s storied outdoor bookshop, wandered in wearing head-to-toe fuchsia.—
Priyanka Mattoo,
Travel + Leisure,
10 May 2026
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So when Jaden Smith wandered over to sign autographs, Huang handed the reel to him instead.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
8 May 2026
Verb
-
By then, 34 other passengers had departed the vessel, which first sailed from the South American country of Argentina in March, with stops in the Antarctic and other locations before heading to waters off Cape Verde near the coast of West Africa.—
Natalie Neysa Alund,
USA Today,
12 May 2026
-
The ship then sailed for the port of Praia in Cape Verde, but was denied permission to dock.—
Mary Whitfill Roeloffs,
Forbes.com,
10 May 2026
Verb
-
James has never roamed the campus as a Buckeye star.—
John Hollinger,
New York Times,
15 May 2026
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Other dinosaurs that would've roamed the terrain include iguanodontians and ceratopsians, plant-eating dinosaurs, in addition to carcharodontosaurians and spinosaurids, big meat-eaters.—
Michelle Del Rey,
USA Today,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
The original oceanic adventure was released only a decade ago, and the second movie swam into theaters in November 2024.—
Rebecca Rubin,
Variety,
13 May 2026
-
Crisp swam up to over a dozen people in the wave pool that day and placed his hands on their buttocks, according to Ada County Deputy Prosecutor Brittany Ford, who was referring to surveillance footage reviewed by law enforcement.—
Alex Brizee,
Idaho Statesman,
7 May 2026
Verb
-
Any natural satellites of Psyche could’ve been ejected from the body by ancient impacts—or might’ve even been captured from deep space by chance encounters as the asteroid drifted through the solar system.—
Meghan Bartels,
Scientific American,
14 May 2026
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The film stars Haddish, Regina Hall, Queen Latifah and Jada Pinkett Smith – the Flossy Posse – four longtime friends who have slowly drifted apart due to life’s demands.—
Saleen Martin,
USA Today,
13 May 2026
Verb
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The candidate strolled in with a videographer and photographer.—
Gustavo Arellano,
Los Angeles Times,
12 May 2026
-
In the name of growth and connectivity, the North Carolina Department of Transportation strolled through McCrorey Heights and other neighborhoods telling, not asking, residents to leave.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
11 May 2026
Verb
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Aubrey Evans’ grand slam set the tone as UCF cruised to a 10-1 mercy-rule win Saturday in five innings over Stetson (37-21) in the Tallahassee Regional of the NCAA Tournament at JoAnne Graf Field.—
Matt Murschel,
The Orlando Sentinel,
16 May 2026
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The Jupiter softball team is heading to the state final four as the host Warriors cruised past Centennial 15-0 in three innings in a 7A regional final on Thursday night.—
Alex Kushel,
Sun Sentinel,
15 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Floated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/floated. Accessed 18 May. 2026.
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