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
Talia Gutierrez, Glamour, 30 Sep. 2025
The living room is anchored by a fireplace; the library’s floor-to-ceiling bookshelves speak to Ertegun’s love of arts and culture; an all-white kitchen has a span of butcher block counters as its only color; and the top-floor primary bedroom floats high above the landscape.
—Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 24 Sep. 2025
Imagine gliding across long distances at nearly 400 miles per hour on a train that floats silently above its tracks.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 15 Sep. 2025
Warren floats somewhere in the mix — anywhere between the hashes.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 12 Sep. 2025
Nostalgia floats through the air as ’90s R&B fills the dining room.
—The Bon Appétit Staff, Bon Appetit Magazine, 12 Sep. 2025
In the backdrop, Amin, her troubled addict brother, played by Tahar Rahim, floats in and out of their lives.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 9 Sep. 2025
Brightly colored blocky floats bob down the lazy river which weaves through arch ways that look like they have been made from giant Lego bricks.
—Caroline Reid, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
There’s an early scene in Poetic License, Maude Apatow’s directorial debut, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival over the weekend, in which an idiosyncratic college senior with family money, played by Cooper Hoffman, floats the idea of creating a LinkedIn account.
—Hershal Pandya, Vulture, 8 Sep. 2025
Jayson Stark, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2025
There will be floats and marching bands, equestrians and community groups.
—Heather McRea, Oc Register, 29 Sep. 2025
Look for croissant beignets and root beer floats.
—Linda Zavoral, Mercury News, 23 Sep. 2025
Many families with children were at the parade, as the kids watched the series of vibrant floats with wide smiles, some wearing Mexican flags like superhero capes, others blowing into plastic horns.
—Daniella Silva, NBC news, 15 Sep. 2025
Each year ahead of Mexican Independence Day in Milwaukee's south side neighborhoods, the streets are filled with red, white and green flags, floats and vibrant music.
—Alyssa N. Salcedo, jsonline.com, 13 Sep. 2025
Above her headboard, a small square painting floats on a blank wall like a postage stamp, recalling a cross above the bed.
—Keith Flanagan, Architectural Digest, 11 Sep. 2025
Boise Pride said 65 groups entered the parade, including 25 floats and vehicles.
—Sally Krutzig, Idaho Statesman, 8 Sep. 2025
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
Verb
Dunk the ends of a lock of your hair in a cup of water (or take a bath, any excuse), and see if your hair floats, sinks, or stays somewhere in the middle.
—Talia Gutierrez, Glamour, 30 Sep. 2025
The living room is anchored by a fireplace; the library’s floor-to-ceiling bookshelves speak to Ertegun’s love of arts and culture; an all-white kitchen has a span of butcher block counters as its only color; and the top-floor primary bedroom floats high above the landscape.
—Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 24 Sep. 2025
Imagine gliding across long distances at nearly 400 miles per hour on a train that floats silently above its tracks.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 15 Sep. 2025
Warren floats somewhere in the mix — anywhere between the hashes.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 12 Sep. 2025
Nostalgia floats through the air as ’90s R&B fills the dining room.
—The Bon Appétit Staff, Bon Appetit Magazine, 12 Sep. 2025
In the backdrop, Amin, her troubled addict brother, played by Tahar Rahim, floats in and out of their lives.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 9 Sep. 2025
Brightly colored blocky floats bob down the lazy river which weaves through arch ways that look like they have been made from giant Lego bricks.
—Caroline Reid, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
There’s an early scene in Poetic License, Maude Apatow’s directorial debut, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival over the weekend, in which an idiosyncratic college senior with family money, played by Cooper Hoffman, floats the idea of creating a LinkedIn account.
—Hershal Pandya, Vulture, 8 Sep. 2025
Noun
But their teams won those starts and wound up on parade floats, and that’s what matters most in the end.
—Jayson Stark, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2025
There will be floats and marching bands, equestrians and community groups.
—Heather McRea, Oc Register, 29 Sep. 2025
Look for croissant beignets and root beer floats.
—Linda Zavoral, Mercury News, 23 Sep. 2025
Many families with children were at the parade, as the kids watched the series of vibrant floats with wide smiles, some wearing Mexican flags like superhero capes, others blowing into plastic horns.
—Daniella Silva, NBC news, 15 Sep. 2025
Each year ahead of Mexican Independence Day in Milwaukee's south side neighborhoods, the streets are filled with red, white and green flags, floats and vibrant music.
—Alyssa N. Salcedo, jsonline.com, 13 Sep. 2025
Above her headboard, a small square painting floats on a blank wall like a postage stamp, recalling a cross above the bed.
—Keith Flanagan, Architectural Digest, 11 Sep. 2025
Boise Pride said 65 groups entered the parade, including 25 floats and vehicles.
—Sally Krutzig, Idaho Statesman, 8 Sep. 2025
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for floats
Verb
-
One of the most important phenomena in high-altitude Sonoma vineyards is the inversion layer, the blanket of fog that hovers between 800 and 1,800 feet throughout many mornings of the growing season.—
Mike DeSimone,
Robb Report,
28 Sep. 2025
-
No aura of ambiguity hovers over Catherine Leroy’s photographs.—
Louis Menand,
New Yorker,
27 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The steering wanders like a distracted Labrador, the ride quality is about as refined as a pogo stick on a gravel driveway, and wind noise makes the cabin sound like you’re trapped inside a tent during a storm.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
27 Sep. 2025
-
Meanwhile, Adrian wanders off to find Alt-Adrian and discovers a new best friend.—
Scott Meslow,
Vulture,
26 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Loewe’s fluid, automotive exterior also creates a unique impression on the bustling docks in Port Hercule.—
Tristan Rutherford,
Robb Report,
26 Sep. 2025
-
The amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima, leader of the pack, has been training alongside amphibious transport docks USS Fort Lauderdale and USS San Antonio, all carrying MV-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft.—
Shane Croucher
John Feng,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Royal Caribbean sails itineraries to 270-plus destinations in 60-plus countries on six continents.—
Jessica Peralta,
Oc Register,
19 Sep. 2025
-
Researchers know about the wrecks because reporting any commercial ship that sails on the lakes is required; from the early 19th century to the 20th century, about 40,000 ships sailed the Great Lakes, Baillod said.—
Taylor Nicioli,
CNN Money,
17 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Michael Myers roams the streets of Haddonfield in Halloween, stabbing people to death inside their own houses.—
Rachel Raposas,
PEOPLE,
29 Sep. 2025
-
Their nearest relative, the gray wolf, still roams forests and tundras.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The only drama so far is Nicolle swims up to Mel, hangs off his neck, and starts making out with him.—
Ali Barthwell,
Vulture,
25 Sep. 2025
-
This is all but confirmed when Laura swims in a nearby pond and discovers her parents' missing car.—
Allison DeGrushe,
Entertainment Weekly,
25 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Every October, when Earth drifts through the dusty trail left behind by Comet 21P/Giacobini-Zinner, the Draconids make their cosmic comeback.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
6 Oct. 2025
-
Pack ice, a type of free-floating ice that drifts on the open ocean, surrounds Antarctica.—
Mindy Weisberger,
CNN Money,
6 Oct. 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 9 Oct. 2025.
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