floating 1 of 2

adjective

ˈflō-tiŋ How to pronounce floating (audio)
Definition of floatingnext
as in afloat
riding upon the surface of a body of liquid the wreckage remained floating for hours

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

floating

2 of 2

verb

present participle of float
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

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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 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 floating
Adjective
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 The boat, a single motorboat, was found floating and half-submerged near the Harbor One Marina. — Julia Gomez, USA TODAY, 3 Sep. 2024
Verb
The main structures at the front (the spa, gym, studio, and reception) are made of natural stone with bougainvillea tumbling down their sides, set between shallow pools of water, echoing the floating effect of the resort above the mangroves. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Oct. 2026 As Burberry’s fortunes improved, GUS began divesting the company, floating a minority stake on the London Stock Exchange in 2002 and completing its separation from Burberry in 2005. — Frannie Comstock, Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for floating
Recent Examples of Synonyms for floating
  1. afloat
  2. hovering
  3. wandering
  4. sailing
  5. roaming
  6. swimming
  7. drifting
  8. cruising
Adjective
  • Through a long winter, more young players will be forced to sell off pieces of their future just to stay afloat.
    — Chris Koras, Sportico.com, 28 Sep. 2026
  • There are no grand revelations here, just cups of tea, glasses of wine, difficult clients, bad jokes, old songs, and the small acts through which people keep one another afloat.
    — Taylor Antrim, Vogue, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of afloat
Verb
  • Geneva, with 405, is hovering just outside the qualifying number in ninth place.
    — Chris Hays, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Oct. 2026
  • The Chemosphere, John Lautner’s modernist UFO hovering above Hollywood Hills.
    — Jack Flemming, Los Angeles Times, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of hovering
Verb
  • In addition to wandering through the patch and harvesting prized pumpkins, there are many activities at Pumpkin Palooza to keep you and your family entertained.
    — Hali Smith October 8, Idaho Statesman, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Couple and family getaways, wedding guests, anyone could be wandering along the paths.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of wandering
Verb
  • The ship’s April transatlantic cruise starts in Port Canaveral before sailing to Bermuda, the Azores, Portugal, and England.
    — Megan duBois, Southern Living, 29 Sep. 2026
  • However, the average vessel isn't exactly sailing around the world for years on end like a commercial freighter.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of sailing
Verb
  • In January, the band launched the roaming Saturdays in the Park.
    — Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 30 Sep. 2026
  • Aerial footage on Sunday showed a bomb disposal robot roaming between the vans in woods near the base.
    — Tim Lister, CNN Money, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of roaming
Verb
  • Lundy and her care team periodically change the water flow rates in the tanks so the baby frogs grow strong limbs and are accustomed to swimming in different conditions.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 29 Sep. 2026
  • Gaines, then swimming for the University of Kentucky, tied Thomas for fifth place in the 200-yard freestyle final.
    — Jackson Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of swimming
Verb
  • Expect to see plenty of holidaymakers and honeymooners hanging out by the pool or drifting in and out of the on-site spa.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
  • The issue, of course, stems from the sound of rider screams from the coaster drifting into the residential area.
    — Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of drifting
Verb
  • The British yard, which revealed its first catamaran at the Cannes Yachting Festival in early September, today unveiled a new flagship sailing superyacht that combines elegant design and meticulous craftsmanship with bluewater cruising capability.
    — Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 24 Sep. 2026
  • After a dismal outing on Sunday, the Indiana Fever got their spark back on Tuesday, cruising to a 96–77 win over the league-best Minnesota Lynx in their final game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse of the regular season.
    — Alejandro Avila OutKick, FOXNews.com, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of cruising

Browse Nearby Words

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Cite this Entry

“Floating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/floating. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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