as in afloat
riding upon the surface of a body of liquid
the wreckage remained floating for hours
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in hovering
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in wandering
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
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Recent Examples of floating
Evan Osnos, The New Yorker, 26 Feb. 2023
This tablet also comes with a full-sized floating keyboard that resembles Apple’s iPad Air and Pro Magic Keyboard.
—Patrick Moorhead, Forbes, 11 Jan. 2023
John Liu, CNN Money, 4 Mar. 2026
Guests can also book a special and more intimate dining experience on a floating platform, perched 50 meters above a nearby river convergence.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for floating
Adjective
The United States shot down three more floating objects in the following days, then announced that there was no sign that any of them were connected to China.
—Evan Osnos, The New Yorker, 26 Feb. 2023
This tablet also comes with a full-sized floating keyboard that resembles Apple’s iPad Air and Pro Magic Keyboard.
—Patrick Moorhead, Forbes, 11 Jan. 2023
Verb
Richard Jones, a crude oil analyst at Energy Aspects, told CNN that Iran has boosted exports since mid-February and private refineries can still access some Iranian oil through their floating storage vessels, most of which are off Singapore.
—John Liu, CNN Money, 4 Mar. 2026
Guests can also book a special and more intimate dining experience on a floating platform, perched 50 meters above a nearby river convergence.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for floating
Recent Examples of Synonyms for floating
Adjective
-
The roadside restaurant stayed afloat first through the persistence of locals and, over time, thanks to business from eager tourists seeking the freshest fish.—
Tara Massouleh McCay,
Southern Living,
12 Mar. 2026
-
The case involves the recent indictment of Nye County Republican Commissioner Leonardo Blundo, who is accused of committing fraud against a government program that gave small businesses loans to keep them afloat during the COVID-19 pandemic.—
Sarah N. Lynch,
CBS News,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
That decline in leadership shows up in authoritative surveys like the Pew Research Center’s benchmark poll, which finds that trust in government to do what’s right is hovering near historic lows.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
10 Mar. 2026
-
That, in turn, has caused the price of the metal to surge, breaking past the $5,000 mark in January after hovering under $3,000 per ounce just one year ago.—
Matt Richardson,
CBS News,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
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For a club that spent its early MLS years wandering through mediocrity, Pareja became the steady hand that finally made Orlando City a consistent contender.—
Mike Bianchi,
The Orlando Sentinel,
14 Mar. 2026
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But instead, the young bride was wandering the streets of London in the June heat, frustrated and distraught.—
Moira Donegan,
New Yorker,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The Tripoli was spotted by commercial satellites sailing alone near Taiwan, putting it more than a week away from the waters off Iran.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
14 Mar. 2026
-
Obama visited the island, shook hands with Raúl Castro, celebrities were vacationing in Havana, international artists hosted concerts and cruise ships even started sailing from Miami to Havana.—
Claire Heddles,
Miami Herald,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Lauren Kahn, a researcher at Georgetown University’s Center for Security and Emerging Technology and a former Pentagon official, describes its deployment as more like a chatbot than a free-roaming agent.—
Eric Sullivan,
Scientific American,
6 Mar. 2026
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Among myriad other possibilities, the Orca could be turned into an intriguing motorhome, quite likely the sleekest, slipperiest Class B+ RV roaming the autobahn.—
C.C. Weiss
March 05,
New Atlas,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
For fish tables, players aim to shoot different fish types swimming across the screen using a virtual cannon or gun.—
Scott Butler,
Florida Times-Union,
6 Mar. 2026
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Another was clinging to a floating gas can, and two others were swimming for the shore.—
Delbert L. Chears,
Outdoor Life,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Their outfits were deliberate, their conversations drifting loudly through the opening sets from TLF Trio and Tariq Al-Sabir.—
Ana Gutierrez,
Austin American Statesman,
9 Mar. 2026
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Surviving and thriving for 150 years requires ongoing commitment, generosity, leadership and the unique ability to adapt repeatedly without drifting from or losing one’s core values.—
David Swanson,
The Orlando Sentinel,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Guests will have two charters aboard the hotel’s 35-foot boat, L’Amo, a vintage vessel with enough room for sunbathing and two onboard Volvo engines that allow for smooth, coast-hugging cruising.—
Mark Ellwood,
Robb Report,
14 Mar. 2026
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Ajogbor had 10 points in the second half and Saint Joseph's used a 12-2 spurt to take a 61-42 lead before cruising to the finish.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
14 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Floating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/floating. Accessed 15 Mar. 2026.
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