1
as in hovers
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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in wanders
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
as in docks
a structure used by boats and ships for taking on or landing cargo and passengers
the crew put the cargo on the float before heading back down the river
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of floats
Sophie Dodd, Travel + Leisure, 26 Oct. 2025
Whereas therapy looks backward to heal, and self-help often floats in abstraction, Space of mind looks forward, quantifying how identity, beliefs, and emotions evolve over time.
—Lyssanoel Frater, USA Today, 21 Oct. 2025
To top it off, literally, the cantilevered primary suite floats above the bay like a luxury yacht, offering owners a dressing room, breakfast bar, and a green onyx bath.
—Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 21 Oct. 2025
But Nobody’s Girl floats free, self-assured and self-contained—a true American tragedy.
—Julia Hass, Literary Hub, 21 Oct. 2025
As dust floats through the air, static electricity can attract particles of dirt, pollen, pet dander, and dust that accumulate on the fan blades over time.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 20 Oct. 2025
Shannon demands in a black-and-white flashback clip that floats next to her head in the restaurant.
—Peter Larsen, Oc Register, 17 Oct. 2025
When Taylor Swift floats down the aisle like a pageant queen, Vera Wang thinks the pop star will be wearing just one of several dresses the singer will sport during her wedding to Travis Kelce.
—Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 16 Oct. 2025
Cloudstate floats with airy softness, moving like mist, while Summercore blends presence and lightness for endless summer days.
—Sj Studio, Sourcing Journal, 10 Oct. 2025
Ticked Off, The Orlando Sentinel, 7 Jan. 2026
Like in 2006, when stormy weather last hit the Rose Parade, some floats failed mid-route, McCormick said.
—Gavin J. Quinton, Los Angeles Times, 3 Jan. 2026
The annual Tournament of Roses Parade precedes kickoff, featuring elaborate floats decorated entirely with flowers, seeds, and natural materials.
—Jenzia Burgos, StyleCaster, 1 Jan. 2026
Several floats traveling through Pasadena this morning are receiving awards.
—Matt Nighswander, NBC news, 1 Jan. 2026
The parade features bands, floats, ceremonial vehicles and marching units from veterans groups, businesses and community service and civic groups with San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria as lead grand marshal.
—Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Nov. 2025
Organizers say this year's parade includes 29 floats, 26 performers, nearly a dozen marching bands and more.
—Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 3 Nov. 2025
Grab a spot along the route to catch marching bands, military units, and colorful floats honoring the city’s service members.
—Symiah Dorsey, Southern Living, 26 Oct. 2025
Here's who the celebrity guests are, tributes and of course, new floats.
—Leah Olajide, Freep.com, 23 Oct. 2025
Verb
The soft, breathable cotton blend fabric floats away from the body and can be worn both over a shirt and under a jacket.
—Sophie Dodd, Travel + Leisure, 26 Oct. 2025
Whereas therapy looks backward to heal, and self-help often floats in abstraction, Space of mind looks forward, quantifying how identity, beliefs, and emotions evolve over time.
—Lyssanoel Frater, USA Today, 21 Oct. 2025
To top it off, literally, the cantilevered primary suite floats above the bay like a luxury yacht, offering owners a dressing room, breakfast bar, and a green onyx bath.
—Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 21 Oct. 2025
But Nobody’s Girl floats free, self-assured and self-contained—a true American tragedy.
—Julia Hass, Literary Hub, 21 Oct. 2025
As dust floats through the air, static electricity can attract particles of dirt, pollen, pet dander, and dust that accumulate on the fan blades over time.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 20 Oct. 2025
Shannon demands in a black-and-white flashback clip that floats next to her head in the restaurant.
—Peter Larsen, Oc Register, 17 Oct. 2025
When Taylor Swift floats down the aisle like a pageant queen, Vera Wang thinks the pop star will be wearing just one of several dresses the singer will sport during her wedding to Travis Kelce.
—Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 16 Oct. 2025
Cloudstate floats with airy softness, moving like mist, while Summercore blends presence and lightness for endless summer days.
—Sj Studio, Sourcing Journal, 10 Oct. 2025
Noun
Fox also showed several more close-ups of the floats and bands.
—Ticked Off, The Orlando Sentinel, 7 Jan. 2026
Like in 2006, when stormy weather last hit the Rose Parade, some floats failed mid-route, McCormick said.
—Gavin J. Quinton, Los Angeles Times, 3 Jan. 2026
The annual Tournament of Roses Parade precedes kickoff, featuring elaborate floats decorated entirely with flowers, seeds, and natural materials.
—Jenzia Burgos, StyleCaster, 1 Jan. 2026
Several floats traveling through Pasadena this morning are receiving awards.
—Matt Nighswander, NBC news, 1 Jan. 2026
The parade features bands, floats, ceremonial vehicles and marching units from veterans groups, businesses and community service and civic groups with San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria as lead grand marshal.
—Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Nov. 2025
Organizers say this year's parade includes 29 floats, 26 performers, nearly a dozen marching bands and more.
—Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 3 Nov. 2025
Grab a spot along the route to catch marching bands, military units, and colorful floats honoring the city’s service members.
—Symiah Dorsey, Southern Living, 26 Oct. 2025
Here's who the celebrity guests are, tributes and of course, new floats.
—Leah Olajide, Freep.com, 23 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for floats
Verb
-
Northwestern’s endowment hovers around $14 billion.—
Andy Shaw,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Dellos, the shelter's manager, said the waitlist hovers around 200 people.—
Aaron Bolton,
NPR,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Where is that strange, clueless child who wanders from cause to cause, Greta Thunberg?—
Bobby Zirkin,
Baltimore Sun,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Matt, the dad, wanders off to the kitchen.—
Seth Abramovitch,
HollywoodReporter,
22 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
Miami, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach take turns transforming into floating marketplaces — docks converted to catwalks, hulls polished to reflective arrogance, sales reps who can quote fuel burn like yacht owners care about costs.—
Eric Barton,
Sun Sentinel,
4 Jan. 2026
-
Private boats can also pull up for the day—anchor offshore or tie up at the public docks on the east and west sides, which are first-come, first-served.—
Heema Patel,
Travel + Leisure,
4 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
As the boat sails away, the Creature quietly stares into the sunrise with a smile on his face.—
Yasmeen Hamadeh,
PEOPLE,
7 Nov. 2025
-
The voyage takes off from Miami, travels to Great Stirrup Cay in the Bahamas then sails back to Miami.—
Katie Bain,
Billboard,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Scoop City’s own Dianna Russini roams the sideline.—
Steven Louis Goldstein,
New York Times,
25 Dec. 2025
-
As flares light up the sky, the Deliriant, now a blond hooligan, roams the streets of a port city with Tai Zhaomei (Li Gengxi), a singer and gangster’s moll.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
18 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
The infrastructure humans build in the water ‒ houses, piers, wharves, jetties, and even oil rigs ‒ create new habitats for juvenile jellyfish, called polyps, to attach and grow, Bologna said.—
N'dea Yancey-Bragg,
USA Today,
24 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
In a video from the rescue mission shared on X, the aircrew is seen deploying a rescue swimmer, who swiftly swims to the disabled vessel and helps each boater to the helicopter's lift.—
Hunter Geisel,
CBS News,
18 Dec. 2025
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Meet Scuba Santa at Newport Aquarium Watch as Santa swims with sharks, rays, schools of fish and a sea turtle.—
Caroline Ritzie,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
14 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
So while snow drifts that mound up alongside a properly insulated house with siding shouldn't be a problem, snow against a door leading to the deck may leak.—
Lee Wallender,
The Spruce,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Cafés spill into afternoon sunlight, window-shopping counts as cardio, and live music drifts out of an old pub.—
Eric Barton,
Sun Sentinel,
4 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Floats.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/floats. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
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