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
show current usage.
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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
Bridget Shirvell, Martha Stewart, 9 June 2026
One of the turbine’s most distinctive features is its floating design.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 9 June 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
That's because the majority of commercially available oysters are grown by oyster farmers in coastal waters using systems such as floating bags, cages, or suspended trays.
—Bridget Shirvell, Martha Stewart, 9 June 2026
One of the turbine’s most distinctive features is its floating design.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 9 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for floating
Recent Examples of Synonyms for floating
Adjective
-
If there’s any big bugaboo in his profile, he can be beaten by higher-end velocity, but his ability to adjust to secondary offerings keeps him afloat.—
Gary Bedore,
Kansas City Star,
10 June 2026
-
The man, who has not been identified, was last seen in the water after assisting a woman who had been struggling to stay afloat.—
Anthony Thompson,
USA Today,
9 June 2026
Verb
-
Nahant Beach saw another jump to 95% after hovering around 80% for the previous four years, the report stated.—
Grace Zokovitch,
Boston Herald,
9 June 2026
-
When Sean Penn and Madonna got married in 1985, their Malibu wedding was interrupted by several helicopters hovering.—
Alli Rosenbloom,
CNN Money,
9 June 2026
Verb
-
Nearly a year ago, Estrella was found wandering alone on the streets of Denver without access to necessities, including fresh water.—
Jasmine Arenas,
CBS News,
12 June 2026
-
Ray struggles to hide his drink, to get a drink, to get away on his own and pursue his Sisyphean labors of hammering a bucket of baseballs off a tee and then wandering through the field to collect them and start again.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
12 June 2026
Verb
-
During the low tide and full moon, most of the vessels don't go sailing.—
Nicole F. Roberts,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2026
-
As of June 10, the cheapest fare available on any cruise was $187 per person, based on double occupancy, for a three-day voyage to the line’s exclusive destination on Grand Bahama, Celebration Key, sailing round-trip from Miami aboard Carnival Conquest.—
Nathan Diller,
USA Today,
12 June 2026
Verb
-
Nothing but smoke and fires roaming freely, invading even our graves.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 June 2026
-
Videos went viral of bears rummaging through supermarket aisles and roaming school grounds, setting local communities on edge.—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
9 June 2026
Verb
-
Her body was found a few miles away from where she was believed to have been swimming, per police, according to the Miami Herald.—
Toria Sheffield,
PEOPLE,
7 June 2026
-
Establish and enforce basic pool and water safety rules, such as never swimming without an adult present.—
Chaunie Brusie,
Parents,
6 June 2026
Verb
-
The new Fast & Furious coaster will feature 360-degree rotating coaster vehicles designed to look like drifting race cars from the street racing film franchise that has earned $7 billion at the worldwide box office.—
Brady MacDonald,
Oc Register,
8 June 2026
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Honeywell shares are drifting lower after the company reaffirmed its full-year outlook and provided new guidance for Honeywell Technologies, the name of the remaining company following the separation of its aerospace business.—
Jeff Marks,
CNBC,
8 June 2026
Verb
-
Hop on a boat and spend the day cruising around the Cap d’Antibes and nearby Lérins Islands, where some of the best snorkeling in the French Riviera is at the underwater eco-museum’s sculptures off Sainte-Marguerite Island.—
Lane Nieset,
Travel + Leisure,
13 June 2026
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Parents are often told that cruising with kids means choosing the ship with the biggest slides, the best kids club, or the most beloved mouse.—
Ashlea Halpern,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Floating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/floating. Accessed 15 Jun. 2026.
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