Synonyms of floats

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• hovers
• sails
• swims
• glides
• drifts
• rides
• wafts
• hangs
• bobs
• poises
• dangles
• suspends
• buoys
• rafts
• balloons

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• sinks
• settles
• plunges
• dives
• dips
• lunges
• submerges
• immerses
• submerses

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

• wanders
• roams
• drifts
• cruises
• strolls
• meanders
• roves
• ranges
• traipses
• knocks (about)
• rambles
• gallivants
• bats
• saunters
• mooches
• ambles
• maunders
• gads (about)
• mopes
• kicks around
• dawdles
• strays
• straggles
• mills (about or around)
• vagabonds
• tramps
• hobos

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• docks
• wharves
• piers
• quays
• landings
• jetties
• levees
• quais
• moorings
• slips
• berths
• marinas
• shipyards
• dockyards
• embarcaderos
• quayages
• wharfages

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of floats

Verb

Maybach Ocean Club is betting that the ultimate clubhouse is one that floats, with a 508-foot superyacht serving as its ever-changing backdrop for private dinners, business meetings, wellness retreats, and cultural events. — Julia Zaltzman, Robb Report, 7 Nov. 2026

Zero, Jack Skellington’s dog, floats on the side of a handbag; the Harlequin Demon is rendered with feathers and leather scales; and Skellington himself is painted as a peekaboo surprise inside a carryall. — José Criales-Unzueta, Vanity Fair, 4 Nov. 2026

As on Does Spring Hide Its Joy, the question of who is making what sound—of what physical processes generated the music that now floats from a pair of headphones—loses its charge within a few minutes. — Sasha Geffen, Pitchfork, 3 Nov. 2026

Root beer floats from the store’s cafe will be available at a discount, and election coverage will be shown on a projection screen. — Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 2 Nov. 2026

The Ritz-Carlton Spa floats out over the crashing waves, with its six pod-like pavilions inspired by traditional Malay fishing traps, or ‘bubus’. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Oct. 2026

Expect a night of dazzling sights, as costumed performers, puppets and floats make their way down Columbus Drive. — Jennifer Day, Chicago Tribune, 22 Oct. 2026

Each night, Musgraves floats over the audience, cozily nestled in a giant set of disco ball Truck Nutz. — Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026

After customers complained about the oil that floats to the top of natural peanut butter, the company created a plastic container that could sit upside-down on grocery store shelves, Dana says. — Megan Sauer, CNBC, 13 Oct. 2026

Noun

The primetime special will broadcast live from the parade starting line with exclusive previews and behind-the-scenes stories from the balloons and floats. — Rachel Chang, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Nov. 2026

Thousands turned out in Yuba City on Sunday for the 2026 Sutter County Nagar Kirtan, the annual Sikh Parade first held in 1980, featuring a procession with horses, floats and electric motorcycles, free meals for visitors and devotional music. — Sacbee.com, 2 Nov. 2026

Entering the building is not unlike being back at university — the food hall is bustling, people nervously hug one another, and the sound of a live band rehearsing floats through the walls. — Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 25 Oct. 2026

If turkey floats, fill a 1-gallon resealable plastic bag with ice water and place it on top of turkey. — Alton Brown, Bon Appetit Magazine, 23 Oct. 2026

Outriggers at the tips of the wings act as floats to provide lateral stability. — IEEE Spectrum, 22 Oct. 2026

But on the day of the parade, despite all their precautions, a dead body is found on one of the floats. — Danielle Parker, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026

Flames blast into the sky to illuminate costumed performers and elaborate street floats. — Julia Sayers Gokhale, Midwest Living, 14 Oct. 2026

Crowds will line the route to see floats, costumed actors, spectacular puppets and creative performances. — Doug George, Chicago Tribune, 8 Oct. 2026