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
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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
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Recent Examples of floats
John Wogan, Robb Report, 6 Sep. 2025
Afterward, retreat to the spa’s relaxation lounge—where a glowing copper teardrop floats above cedar banquettes—while next door, the subterranean fitness center boasts Technogym gear and treadmills—all below the waterline.
—Lewis Nunn, Forbes.com, 6 Sep. 2025
Professor Orloff is a severed head that floats in a jar.
—Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 6 Sep. 2025
One mom floats the idea of getting 25% of local fifth graders to pledge to wait to get a cell phone.
—Charlotte Alter, Time, 5 Sep. 2025
This week, Drake stokes the anticipation for his next album with a new track featuring Cash Cobain, psych-pop kingpin Tame Impala floats back into our world, and Lady Gaga dances with the dead.
—Rolling Stone, 5 Sep. 2025
The ritual floats on, coming around each summer like the willow warbler or the common cuckoo.
—Jordan Michelman, The Atlantic, 4 Sep. 2025
America’s relationship with its pro football stage floats between fixation and faith.
—Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2025
Sexy can be in the flow, in a dress that moves with your body, in wide-leg trousers or a voluminous blouse that floats around you.
—Karissa Mitchell, Essence, 18 Aug. 2025
Tykesha Spivey Burton, Southern Living, 3 Sep. 2025
The top of one of the floats holds a round onboard control panel, which contains a power button, a Bluetooth pairing button, an LED ring, and a proprietary two-pin charging port protected by a rubber cover.
—PC Magazine, 29 Aug. 2025
Children chase candy thrown from floats, residents grill on sidewalks and share food with neighbors.
—Meredith Nierman, NPR, 19 Aug. 2025
Altadena residents gather at the homes of friends and relatives to watch the floats line up before dawn on New Year’s Day.
—Jill Cowan, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2025
Menu items include CakeShakes that blend homemade cake inside a milkshake, homemade macarons, floats, dessert nachos and ice cream.
—Andy Humbles, The Tennessean, 15 Aug. 2025
Watch processions of glowing pole lanterns at the Akita Kanto Festival, marvel at the colorful floats of the Aomori Nebuta Matsuri, and see Sendai explode with kaleidoscopic decorations during the Tanabata Festival.
—Zoe Baillargeon, Travel + Leisure, 8 Aug. 2025
This 71-gallon deck box is a convenient spot to store pool floats, gardening supplies, feeders, and birdseed.
—Ali Faccenda, People.com, 4 Aug. 2025
Verb
Guests are encouraged to live fully in the space, where morning coffee brews in a Hay French press, poolside afternoons are spent on Oliver James floats, and alfresco dinners happen amid DWR’s Terassi outdoor teak furniture (all of which, naturally, is for sale).
—John Wogan, Robb Report, 6 Sep. 2025
Afterward, retreat to the spa’s relaxation lounge—where a glowing copper teardrop floats above cedar banquettes—while next door, the subterranean fitness center boasts Technogym gear and treadmills—all below the waterline.
—Lewis Nunn, Forbes.com, 6 Sep. 2025
Professor Orloff is a severed head that floats in a jar.
—Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 6 Sep. 2025
One mom floats the idea of getting 25% of local fifth graders to pledge to wait to get a cell phone.
—Charlotte Alter, Time, 5 Sep. 2025
This week, Drake stokes the anticipation for his next album with a new track featuring Cash Cobain, psych-pop kingpin Tame Impala floats back into our world, and Lady Gaga dances with the dead.
—Rolling Stone, 5 Sep. 2025
The ritual floats on, coming around each summer like the willow warbler or the common cuckoo.
—Jordan Michelman, The Atlantic, 4 Sep. 2025
America’s relationship with its pro football stage floats between fixation and faith.
—Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2025
Sexy can be in the flow, in a dress that moves with your body, in wide-leg trousers or a voluminous blouse that floats around you.
—Karissa Mitchell, Essence, 18 Aug. 2025
Noun
Once the underground portion of the tour is complete, head upstairs for the American Celebration on Parade, which features a collection of parade floats and props from historical national events.
—Tykesha Spivey Burton, Southern Living, 3 Sep. 2025
The top of one of the floats holds a round onboard control panel, which contains a power button, a Bluetooth pairing button, an LED ring, and a proprietary two-pin charging port protected by a rubber cover.
—PC Magazine, 29 Aug. 2025
Children chase candy thrown from floats, residents grill on sidewalks and share food with neighbors.
—Meredith Nierman, NPR, 19 Aug. 2025
Altadena residents gather at the homes of friends and relatives to watch the floats line up before dawn on New Year’s Day.
—Jill Cowan, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2025
Menu items include CakeShakes that blend homemade cake inside a milkshake, homemade macarons, floats, dessert nachos and ice cream.
—Andy Humbles, The Tennessean, 15 Aug. 2025
Watch processions of glowing pole lanterns at the Akita Kanto Festival, marvel at the colorful floats of the Aomori Nebuta Matsuri, and see Sendai explode with kaleidoscopic decorations during the Tanabata Festival.
—Zoe Baillargeon, Travel + Leisure, 8 Aug. 2025
This 71-gallon deck box is a convenient spot to store pool floats, gardening supplies, feeders, and birdseed.
—Ali Faccenda, People.com, 4 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for floats
Verb
-
The homicide clearance rate is extraordinary for a city that hovers around 1 million residents.—
Robert Salonga,
Mercury News,
30 Aug. 2025
-
Tuition for in-state students hovers at $7,000, while out-of-state tuition is just under $20,000.—
Francesca Walton,
Forbes.com,
26 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
If the canine wanders around, night lights can reduce their confusion in the dark, and keeping them in a small room that is difficult to get lost in may also help.—
Alyce Collins,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 Aug. 2025
-
Breathe, notice and return to the moment each time the mind wanders.—
Aslak de Silva,
Forbes.com,
8 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
But Everton’s arrival in an area blighted by the decline of those same docks has brought genuine hope of a spectacular revival.—
Richard Sutcliffe,
New York Times,
6 Sep. 2025
-
Some properties are pet-friendly, and others come with boat docks.—
Lisa Cericola,
Southern Living,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Disney Cruise Line Disney sails Halloween on the High Seas voyages in September and October, where passengers will find special decor – including a magical Halloween tree – themed desserts and drinks and other festive activities.—
Nathan Diller,
USA Today,
4 Sep. 2025
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Aqua Blu, a former yacht of the Campari family reimagined as a 30-cabin expedition yacht, sails week-long routes from Bali through Komodo and up to Raja Ampat.—
Lela London,
Forbes.com,
30 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
In a video, Billy Ray roams a large grassy field while listening to the song on his phone.—
Rachel DeSantis,
People.com,
25 Aug. 2025
-
The saiga antelope roams the Eurasian steppe of Central Asia.—
Popular Science Team,
Popular Science,
15 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Bear swims to the exit, and shakes off his wet fur.—
Rachael O'Connor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Sep. 2025
-
The halibut swims in a magenta consommé of dashi and beetroot.—
Helen Rosner,
New Yorker,
31 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
The former Chelsea and Aston Villa winger offers Sunderland something slightly different in terms of being a left-footed player who drifts in from the right.—
Tim Spiers,
New York Times,
2 Sep. 2025
-
The video shows the shark's dorsal fin cutting across the water before the giant fish drifts along the side of the kayak, its skin visible just below the surface.—
Soo Kim,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 Aug. 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
Cite this Entry
“Floats.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/floats. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
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