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
ArsTechnica, 20 May 2026
Throw something that floats and call 9-1-1.
—Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 18 May 2026
An older egg will tilt or stand upright on the bottom, and one that floats has accumulated significant air.
—Anne Wolf, Martha Stewart, 17 May 2026
Out back, a small sewage-treatment plant converts bodily waste from two flanking portable toilets into purified water, which is piped into a large tank in which yet another unclothed woman, wearing a scuba mouthpiece, floats for four hours at a time.
—Sebastian Smee, The Atlantic, 16 May 2026
The show has already done these misleading posters, including one where Homelander floats in space, watching nukes go off on Earth below.
—Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 16 May 2026
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, 14 May 2026
Trump floats a pause on the federal gas tax.
—Adam Beam, AJC.com, 14 May 2026
Residents say another invasive plant, Eichhornia crassipes, which floats on the water’s surface, has long been present in the lagoon and also disrupts fishing and transport, though its impact has been less sudden.
—ABC News, 12 May 2026
News Release, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 May 2026
The cupcake-frosted Neoclassical villas and grand hotels, decorated with swoopy Art Nouveau curlicues, are artifacts of the Belle Époque, left behind like parade floats by the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
—Kevin West, Travel + Leisure, 8 May 2026
The most popular dirty sodas mimic familiar flavors from childhood — orange creamsicles, cherry vanilla cola and root beer floats.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Kansas City Star, 5 May 2026
There will be floats, performers and community groups parading down Chapman Avenue.
—Heather McRea, Oc Register, 30 Apr. 2026
Those floats, however, were not engineered for an animal of Chonkers’ caliber.
—Samantha Agate, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Apr. 2026
For the California sea lions — which can grow up to 700 pounds, per NOAA — harbor staff can gently guide them to one of the 42 wooden floats so boaters can go about their business.
—Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 28 Apr. 2026
This is why ice floats, and why bodies of water freeze from the top down, allowing underwater life to survive the winter.
—Shalma Wegsman, Quanta Magazine, 27 Apr. 2026
Three people were rescued Wednesday off the northern Outer Banks, after winds blew their floats more than a mile away from the coast, the Corolla Fire & Rescue Squad reported in an April 22 news release.
—Mark Price
april 23, Charlotte Observer, 23 Apr. 2026
Verb
Colossal also confirmed that, due to density differences, the yolk naturally floats to the top of the container, with the embryo rotating to the top of that.
—ArsTechnica, 20 May 2026
Throw something that floats and call 9-1-1.
—Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 18 May 2026
An older egg will tilt or stand upright on the bottom, and one that floats has accumulated significant air.
—Anne Wolf, Martha Stewart, 17 May 2026
Out back, a small sewage-treatment plant converts bodily waste from two flanking portable toilets into purified water, which is piped into a large tank in which yet another unclothed woman, wearing a scuba mouthpiece, floats for four hours at a time.
—Sebastian Smee, The Atlantic, 16 May 2026
The show has already done these misleading posters, including one where Homelander floats in space, watching nukes go off on Earth below.
—Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 16 May 2026
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, 14 May 2026
Trump floats a pause on the federal gas tax.
—Adam Beam, AJC.com, 14 May 2026
Residents say another invasive plant, Eichhornia crassipes, which floats on the water’s surface, has long been present in the lagoon and also disrupts fishing and transport, though its impact has been less sudden.
—ABC News, 12 May 2026
Noun
Volunteers also served classic treats like rooter floats, doughnuts, and candy.
—News Release, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 May 2026
The cupcake-frosted Neoclassical villas and grand hotels, decorated with swoopy Art Nouveau curlicues, are artifacts of the Belle Époque, left behind like parade floats by the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
—Kevin West, Travel + Leisure, 8 May 2026
The most popular dirty sodas mimic familiar flavors from childhood — orange creamsicles, cherry vanilla cola and root beer floats.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Kansas City Star, 5 May 2026
There will be floats, performers and community groups parading down Chapman Avenue.
—Heather McRea, Oc Register, 30 Apr. 2026
Those floats, however, were not engineered for an animal of Chonkers’ caliber.
—Samantha Agate, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Apr. 2026
For the California sea lions — which can grow up to 700 pounds, per NOAA — harbor staff can gently guide them to one of the 42 wooden floats so boaters can go about their business.
—Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 28 Apr. 2026
This is why ice floats, and why bodies of water freeze from the top down, allowing underwater life to survive the winter.
—Shalma Wegsman, Quanta Magazine, 27 Apr. 2026
Three people were rescued Wednesday off the northern Outer Banks, after winds blew their floats more than a mile away from the coast, the Corolla Fire & Rescue Squad reported in an April 22 news release.
—Mark Price
april 23, Charlotte Observer, 23 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for floats
Verb
-
Average annual income hovers around $58,000, reflecting a shortage of high-wage opportunities.—
Linh Tat,
Oc Register,
4 May 2026
-
Towing capacity hovers around 6,500 pounds (2,948 kg), depending on configuration.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
3 May 2026
Verb
-
His daughter yelps delightedly as a calf wanders close to the fence.—
Greg O'Keeffe,
New York Times,
16 May 2026
-
In the ensuing panic, Jesus (Bilal Hasna) wanders off down to Earth and is befriended by a former street hustler named Harry the Fish (Mark Addy).—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
15 May 2026
Noun
-
The project calls for lighting upgrades, outdoor fitness equipment, solar panels and additional boat slip renovations, including seawall improvements, docks and utilities.—
Susannah Bryan,
Sun Sentinel,
14 May 2026
-
The Nautilus consisted of a large six-story main building, 19 single-family villas, a swimming pool, 52 cabanas and several docks, all spread out across 20 acres, including the small Johns and Collins islands in the bay.—
Miami Herald Archives,
Miami Herald,
13 May 2026
Verb
-
The neutrino is a nearly weightless particle that sails through matter like a phantasm.—
Joseph Howlett,
Scientific American,
8 May 2026
-
Sooner or later, every ship sails off into the sunset.—
Elizabeth Heath,
Travel + Leisure,
1 May 2026
Verb
-
Today, the herd roams the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge and is managed in partnership with the local fire company, which hosts the annual pony swim—a beloved local tradition.—
Travel + Leisure Editors,
Travel + Leisure,
19 May 2026
-
In one scene, Misael disappears entirely from the forest as the canine roams around in the background while a calf grazes up front.—
Vadim Rizov,
IndieWire,
16 May 2026
Noun
-
In San Isidro, a movement was born Castillo and Otero grew up in San Isidro, a working class, hardscrabble neighborhood abutting the wharfs near the Port of Havana, and became friends – one a rapper, the other a visual artist.—
Rick Jervis,
USA Today,
13 May 2026
-
The wharves and warehouses along Pratt Street burned fiercely.—
Jacques Kelly,
Baltimore Sun,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Even Jason Momoa swims in, but in a non-Aquaman role.—
Randy Myers,
Mercury News,
23 May 2026
-
In addition to running, Carmona swims a mile on his off-days and does daily two-mile dog walks.—
Erin Clack,
PEOPLE,
10 May 2026
Verb
-
The focus drifts slightly at one point.—
Seth Abramovitch,
HollywoodReporter,
19 May 2026
-
As the boat drifts along the border, watch for eagles overhead and elk along the shoreline.—
Shilo Urban,
Travel + Leisure,
19 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Floats.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/floats. Accessed 25 May. 2026.
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