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
Reuters,
NBC news,
24 June 2026
There is a lot of background information about us floating around on the internet, especially on social media, where our history of posts can add up to a detailed psychological profile.
—
Robert Wright,
Fortune,
24 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
Oil tanker rates have soared in recent days due to tightness of ship availability and safety concerns, which have included the risk of floating mines.
—
Reuters,
NBC news,
24 June 2026
There is a lot of background information about us floating around on the internet, especially on social media, where our history of posts can add up to a detailed psychological profile.
—
Robert Wright,
Fortune,
24 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for floating
Recent Examples of Synonyms for floating
Adjective
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To stay afloat, Catawba County sought to diversify its economic gains and began looking into data centers.
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But those are optimistic goals for a regime that has proven unable or unwilling to keep its own economy afloat.
Verb
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With credit card interest rates still hovering around 20%, this may be less a strategic move and more a mandatory one.
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Attendance at the annual event has grown, Rodgers said, with attendance before the pandemic hovering around 3,000 but about 6,000 coming to the festival a year ago.
Verb
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After countless date nights spent wandering Costco aisles during executive member hours and dining on food-court pizza and hot dogs, Beth and Alec Harwerth decided there was no better location for their engagement photos.
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In Corfu, days were spent hiking to the island's best beaches, wandering through pastel old-town streets, and stopping for long lunches in mountain villages.
Verb
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Options for activities include paddleboarding and chasing Arctic swells in the fjords, sailing through sea cliffs and the uninhabited Hornstrandir Nature Reserve, and spotting whales, seals, Arctic foxes, and more wildlife.
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Sail4th 250 kicks off Friday, featuring 40 vessels representing 40 nations sailing from the Verrazzano Bridge all the way north to the George Washington Bridge and docking at piers on 15 miles of waterfront across the city.
Verb
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On July 8, the Inyo National Forest will begin rounding up horses from the Montgomery Pass herd roaming beyond the roughly 200,000 acres designated for them along the California-Nevada border, according to a recent news release.
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The animals have been seen on airport runways, walking on golf courses, roaming near schools and causing panic in supermarkets and hot spring resorts almost on a daily basis.
Verb
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According to officials, an adult woman was swimming in the river when she was bitten by an alligator, resulting in serious injuries.
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Authorities have warned people to take extra care when swimming in unsupervised areas, such as rivers or lakes, following the deaths of around 40 people in France over the past week.
Verb
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Without it, the experience risks drifting into the broad category of pretty resort dinner.
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People often watch them with comments from other viewers drifting across their screens.
Verb
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The Brazilians are cruising early in the second half.
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Spending by active yachts supports marinas, hotels, restaurants, transportation providers and a range of local service businesses in major cruising destinations—not just in terms of guest or owner spending, but crew spending, too.
Cite this Entry
“Floating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/floating. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.
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