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
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Recent Examples of floats
Jack Flemming, Los Angeles Times, 29 Jan. 2026
An invisible ocean floats above our heads, so why not tap into it, literally?
—Shi En Kim, AZCentral.com, 26 Jan. 2026
Amid the cold marble, dull plaster and dark wood that make up the austere halls of justice at the Porter County Courthouse, an oasis of calm and comfort now floats on the fifth floor in what is believed to be the first victim assistance suite of its kind in the state.
—Shelley Jones, Chicago Tribune, 23 Jan. 2026
As the introspective journey draws to a close, the filmmaker floats the idea of continuing the project into the future, even after his departure.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 23 Jan. 2026
But Raven Johnson floats up a shot for a the five-point lead.
—Zoe Collins Rath, Austin American Statesman, 15 Jan. 2026
Each space floats on local zapote wood pillars to avoid covering the ground, leaving most of the jungle intact.
—Gemma Price, Travel + Leisure, 11 Jan. 2026
Over half the resort floats to minimize land disruption, there are zero single-use plastics, and even their toilet paper is sourced with eco credentials.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Jan. 2026
Also as part of the campaign, Chick-fil-A is adding its frosted sodas and floats to its menu permanently, starting Monday.
—Amelia Lucas, CNBC, 5 Jan. 2026
Sophie Morgan, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Jan. 2026
In Manhattan, a celery root ice cream floats in a briny celeriac soda at Smithereens, and at Echelon in Ann Arbor, Michigan, savory corn ice cream gets topped with a glistening dollop of caviar.
—Charlie Kolodziej, Bon Appetit Magazine, 23 Jan. 2026
Expect to see colorful parade floats, bands and drill teams in the Oak Cliff neighborhood.
—Alyson Rodriguez, Dallas Morning News, 23 Jan. 2026
The parade also includes marching bands, floats, farm equipment and, of course, cowgirls and cowboys.
—The Know, Denver Post, 22 Jan. 2026
Many groups had decorated floats and carried banners with messages of unity and service.
—Laura Daniella Sepulveda, AZCentral.com, 20 Jan. 2026
The menu focuses on old-fashioned classics and light fare, including ice cream sundaes, banana splits, milkshakes, malts, and floats.
—Vivian Chung, Travel + Leisure, 17 Jan. 2026
This year the Rose Parade offered floats representing San Francisco, Mississippi, and Louisiana tourism.
—Michael Goldstein, Forbes.com, 17 Jan. 2026
The parade features bands, floats, drill teams, colleges and universities, fraternities, sororities and churches along with peace and youth organizations.
—Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Jan. 2026
Verb
Tucked on a hillside in the Rustic Canyon neighborhood, the house floats above a natural spring that flows through the property, resting on six concrete columns sunk 30 feet into the ground.
—Jack Flemming, Los Angeles Times, 29 Jan. 2026
An invisible ocean floats above our heads, so why not tap into it, literally?
—Shi En Kim, AZCentral.com, 26 Jan. 2026
Amid the cold marble, dull plaster and dark wood that make up the austere halls of justice at the Porter County Courthouse, an oasis of calm and comfort now floats on the fifth floor in what is believed to be the first victim assistance suite of its kind in the state.
—Shelley Jones, Chicago Tribune, 23 Jan. 2026
As the introspective journey draws to a close, the filmmaker floats the idea of continuing the project into the future, even after his departure.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 23 Jan. 2026
But Raven Johnson floats up a shot for a the five-point lead.
—Zoe Collins Rath, Austin American Statesman, 15 Jan. 2026
Each space floats on local zapote wood pillars to avoid covering the ground, leaving most of the jungle intact.
—Gemma Price, Travel + Leisure, 11 Jan. 2026
Over half the resort floats to minimize land disruption, there are zero single-use plastics, and even their toilet paper is sourced with eco credentials.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Jan. 2026
Also as part of the campaign, Chick-fil-A is adding its frosted sodas and floats to its menu permanently, starting Monday.
—Amelia Lucas, CNBC, 5 Jan. 2026
Noun
For pure spectacle, Mardi Gras World reveals how the city’s legendary floats come alive; Vue Orleans delivers 360-degree views and smart interactive storytelling; and New Orleans Secrets tours takes you inside haunted buildings after dark for a paranormal experience with real atmospheric bite.
—Sophie Morgan, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Jan. 2026
In Manhattan, a celery root ice cream floats in a briny celeriac soda at Smithereens, and at Echelon in Ann Arbor, Michigan, savory corn ice cream gets topped with a glistening dollop of caviar.
—Charlie Kolodziej, Bon Appetit Magazine, 23 Jan. 2026
Expect to see colorful parade floats, bands and drill teams in the Oak Cliff neighborhood.
—Alyson Rodriguez, Dallas Morning News, 23 Jan. 2026
The parade also includes marching bands, floats, farm equipment and, of course, cowgirls and cowboys.
—The Know, Denver Post, 22 Jan. 2026
Many groups had decorated floats and carried banners with messages of unity and service.
—Laura Daniella Sepulveda, AZCentral.com, 20 Jan. 2026
The menu focuses on old-fashioned classics and light fare, including ice cream sundaes, banana splits, milkshakes, malts, and floats.
—Vivian Chung, Travel + Leisure, 17 Jan. 2026
This year the Rose Parade offered floats representing San Francisco, Mississippi, and Louisiana tourism.
—Michael Goldstein, Forbes.com, 17 Jan. 2026
The parade features bands, floats, drill teams, colleges and universities, fraternities, sororities and churches along with peace and youth organizations.
—Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for floats
Verb
-
Chicago's waste diversion rate – the amount of garbage being recycled instead of dumped in landfills – hovers around 10%.—
Tara Molina,
CBS News,
23 Jan. 2026
-
And the upside to cheaper cars becomes harder to ignore as the average sticker price for a new car in America hovers around a staggering $50,000.—
Patrick George,
The Atlantic,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
When Elizabeth wanders down below and sees the Creature, the two are mesmerized by one another.—
Jenelle Riley,
Variety,
14 Jan. 2026
-
Where is that strange, clueless child who wanders from cause to cause, Greta Thunberg?—
Bobby Zirkin,
Baltimore Sun,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Several boat docks, businesses, and other structures suffered damage from heavy snow.—
Helen Graham,
NBC news,
26 Jan. 2026
-
The nearly 30,000-square-foot warehouse features six loading docks, large storage areas throughout the facility and twice the amount of cooler space than previously available for refrigerated products.—
Jessica Alvarado Gamez,
Denver Post,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The Star Breeze sails year-round in French Polynesia, with voyages departing almost every week, according to the cruise line’s website.—
Natalia Senanayake,
PEOPLE,
21 Jan. 2026
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Where National Geographic Endurance Sails Endurance often sails in icy waters, including those in the Arctic and around Antarctica, South Georgia, and the Falkland Islands.—
Kristen E. Pope,
Travel + Leisure,
29 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Unlike the casual pizza and pasta served at its sister restaurant, Via Aurelia leans upscale, with a five-course tasting option and an extensive wine list that roams Italy and beyond.—
Becky Duffett,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
27 Jan. 2026
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Scoop City’s own Dianna Russini roams the sideline.—
Steven Louis Goldstein,
New York Times,
25 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
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Maybe wind your way around the neighborhood’s old wharfs and small brick houses; or lock up your bike and check out an exhibition at the Brooklyn Waterfront Artists Coalition, then grab lunch at the kitschy crab shack Brooklyn Crab.—
Francesca Carington,
Condé Nast Traveler,
18 Jan. 2024
Verb
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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
-
Hari Kunzru drifts through London.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Jan. 2026
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Our list includes the American Civil Liberties Union, which has spent more than a century defending the Constitution, using litigation and advocacy to uphold the rule of law when state power drifts toward authoritarian abuse.—
Dev Patnaik,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Floats.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/floats. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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