floats 1 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of float
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

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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

floats

2 of 2

noun

plural of float
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

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of floats
Verb
Fukushima floats another possible benefit, one that might appeal to the easily queasy, this writer included. — New Atlas, 7 Oct. 2026 Named after the Victoria Regia, a water lily that floats in the Amazon, this hotel imbues Colombian flavor with elegant French touches. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Oct. 2026 Wrapped in a tough, drop-proof fabric shell that floats and shrugs off water, it is engineered to survive real-world chaos. — Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 28 Sep. 2026 Who actually needs digestive enzymes Signs of a genuine enzyme deficiency include diarrhea, stomach pain, bloating, unexplained weight loss and fatty or oily stool that floats. — Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 23 Sep. 2026 On the sundeck, for example, candy floats in the resin bar top and Murano glass sweets sit on the front of the hot tub. — Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 23 Sep. 2026 Soon, the pincher floats free of her consciousness, briefly inhabiting the mind of Pola or Ines before flickering back into herself. — Kathryn Schulz, New Yorker, 21 Sep. 2026 The city has completed a 2-megawatt solar array that floats on the Twin Lakes Reservoir, its primary drinking water source. — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 10 Sep. 2026 Amy is an extremely specific archetype within Wasia, a cosmopolite who floats through a stratosphere of international schools and three-city Instagram bios. — E. Alex Jung, Vulture, 8 Sep. 2026
Noun
The parade celebrated the contributions of Italian Americans to the nation's history, culture and achievements with marching bands, floats, musical performances and ambassadors, organizers said. — Alexa Herrera, CBS News, 12 Oct. 2026 Expect floats, marching bands, autumn lanterns, a food festival, kids’ activities, and a costume contest, all in one of our favorite towns for a fall getaway. — Michelle Mastro, Midwest Living, 9 Oct. 2026 Crowds will line the route to see floats, costumed actors, spectacular puppets and creative performances. — Doug George, Chicago Tribune, 8 Oct. 2026 Flat tax debate Still, threats to leave are the predictable response whenever a state floats taxing the wealthy. — Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 23 Sep. 2026 The Queen of the Lake floats on Lake Union, with a three-sided moorage and city views. — The Week Us, TheWeek, 15 Sep. 2026 In the case of nano floats, the supply is low and the space can quickly become overcrowded. — David Capablanca, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2026 On Labor Day 2025, Zohran Kwame Mamdani enjoyed Brooklyn’s West Indian American Day Parade, grooving on various floats as an assemblyman representing Astoria, Queens. — Reshma B, VIBE.com, 7 Sep. 2026 Outdoor adventures include nearby waterfalls, forest hikes, and rafting trips ranging from Class III floats to Class V whitewater. — Cu Fleshman, Travel + Leisure, 5 Sep. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for floats
  1. hovers
  2. wanders
  3. docks
  4. sails
  5. roams
  6. wharves
  7. swims
  8. drifts
Verb
  • But when Alexander saw the green machine, the tree excavator, feet away from the 100-year-old oak tree that hovers over the corner of Salem Drive and Idlewood Circle, that was not fine.
    — Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 16 Oct. 2026
  • The band hovers in a razor-thin lacuna between heaven and hell, between ascension and purgatory, on the verge of going either way.
    — Grayson Haver Currin, Pitchfork, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of hovers
Verb
  • Third place was Japanese director Sabu’s Arrested Memory, a crime caper about a detective with dementia who unwittingly wanders off with a multimillion-dollar ransom, sending cops and criminals on his trail.
    — Glenn Garner, Deadline, 21 Sep. 2026
  • Perhaps most telling of all, Stone cuts the character of Carlotta, a governess born to circus performers who wanders through the play like a lost clown, origin-less, amused, and sad.
    — Sara Holdren, Vulture, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of wanders
Noun
  • The village built on the Luna Rossa base’s docks — its metallic structure wrapped externally in reflective foil — is an immersive, low-light space with modular wooden and aluminum displays intended for flexibility.
    — Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 9 Oct. 2026
  • All 564 elegant rooms and suites are spacious with harbor views, combining generous windows and contemporary furniture with iHome docks.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of docks
Verb
  • Seabourn sails the 264-passenger Seabourn Venture and twin Seabourn Pursuit, two lavish all-suite polar-class expedition ships cruising remote itineraries, each with two submarines.
    — Janice Wald Henderson, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Some of my favorites are coming back too, like El Pulpo Magnifico, Duane Flatmo's fire-breathing octopus, and the Monaco, a 40-foot ship with three masts that sails across dust instead of water.
    — Jim Dobson, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of sails
Verb
  • When the Farmer destroys the flock’s beloved pumpkin patch, Shaun turns mad scientist to fix the problem, only for events to spiral out of control as a wild beast roams the woods of Mossingham.
    — Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 20 Sep. 2026
  • Ripper Row — Jack the Ripper roams the streets in search of his next victim.
    — Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of roams
Noun
  • But in 1820, Shippingport had about 600 residents, three wharves for steamboats, taverns and a flour mill.
    — Leo Bertucci, Louisville Courier Journal, 16 Aug. 2026
  • The redevelopment would change that by extending and upgrading existing wharves and dredging areas around the docks.
    — David Nikel, Forbes.com, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of wharves
Verb
  • During a seemingly regular day at camp, Jason swims too far and drowns as the other campers and staff look on helplessly.
    — Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Combined, the conditions are welcoming fish that are typically rare to these waters, like the bullet tuna, which typically swims in the Indian and Atlantic oceans or around Hawaii and the central Pacific.
    — Fedor Zarkhin, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of swims
Verb
  • His attention drifts towards intimate details – the bare armpit, the small hollow at the base of Rafael’s neck – and the music follows him into this increasingly private, almost obsessive fascination.
    — Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Filmed largely in natural daylight, the film drifts between still, unhurried, panning shots to evoke not only the spiritual energy that keeps the temples humming but also a world in slow, gradual decay.
    — Lé Baltar, IndieWire, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of drifts

Browse Nearby Words

floating
floats
floaty
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Cite this Entry

“Floats.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/floats. Accessed 18 Oct. 2026.

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