floats 1 of 2

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

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2

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

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
The soft, breathable cotton blend fabric floats away from the body and can be worn both over a shirt and under a jacket. Sophie Dodd, Travel + Leisure, 26 Oct. 2025 Whereas therapy looks backward to heal, and self-help often floats in abstraction, Space of mind looks forward, quantifying how identity, beliefs, and emotions evolve over time. Lyssanoel Frater, USA Today, 21 Oct. 2025 To top it off, literally, the cantilevered primary suite floats above the bay like a luxury yacht, offering owners a dressing room, breakfast bar, and a green onyx bath. Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 21 Oct. 2025 But Nobody’s Girl floats free, self-assured and self-contained—a true American tragedy. Julia Hass, Literary Hub, 21 Oct. 2025 As dust floats through the air, static electricity can attract particles of dirt, pollen, pet dander, and dust that accumulate on the fan blades over time. Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 20 Oct. 2025 Shannon demands in a black-and-white flashback clip that floats next to her head in the restaurant. Peter Larsen, Oc Register, 17 Oct. 2025 When Taylor Swift floats down the aisle like a pageant queen, Vera Wang thinks the pop star will be wearing just one of several dresses the singer will sport during her wedding to Travis Kelce. Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 16 Oct. 2025 Cloudstate floats with airy softness, moving like mist, while Summercore blends presence and lightness for endless summer days. Sj Studio, Sourcing Journal, 10 Oct. 2025
Noun
The parade features bands, floats, ceremonial vehicles and marching units from veterans groups, businesses and community service and civic groups with San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria as lead grand marshal. Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Nov. 2025 Organizers say this year's parade includes 29 floats, 26 performers, nearly a dozen marching bands and more. Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 3 Nov. 2025 Grab a spot along the route to catch marching bands, military units, and colorful floats honoring the city’s service members. Symiah Dorsey, Southern Living, 26 Oct. 2025 Here's who the celebrity guests are, tributes and of course, new floats. Leah Olajide, Freep.com, 23 Oct. 2025 When the temperature reaches 350°F (or when a bit of batter dropped into the oil floats and sizzles), working in batches, drop heaped tablespoonfuls of batter into the oil. Romy Gill, Saveur, 22 Oct. 2025 Vintage photos decorate the walls and the extensive menu covers breakfast, lunch and dinner classics, from eggs Benedict and patty melts to floats and ice cream sundaes. Charlotte Observer, 21 Oct. 2025 The floats are built to withstand typhoon-level winds and nearshore conditions for up to 30 years. Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 15 Oct. 2025 There are no roads into the park, so visitors must fly in a small aircraft often equipped with floats or tundra tires. Madison Dapcevich, Outside, 7 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for floats
Verb
  • National runner-up Houston also hovers near the top of the odds as well.
    Scott Phillips, New York Times, 3 Nov. 2025
  • The population here hovers around 250, and there’s just one grocery store—but intrepid guests will find themselves in stunning, rugged landscapes with few people around.
    Mae Hamilton, Travel + Leisure, 1 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Anders wanders Oslo like a spectre.
    Margaret Talbot, New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2025
  • Now free, Alma’s emaciated, adult form wanders the world, unending rage bent on revenge.
    Will Borger, Rolling Stone, 31 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • And a sense of futility is creeping across waterfronts and docks.
    CalMatters, Mercury News, 6 Nov. 2025
  • At the port, narrow wooden docks stretched over the river, lined with vendors selling hammocks, bottled water, sacks of rice, and mosquito repellent.
    Aaron Randolph, Travel + Leisure, 5 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • As the boat sails away, the Creature quietly stares into the sunrise with a smile on his face.
    Yasmeen Hamadeh, PEOPLE, 7 Nov. 2025
  • The voyage takes off from Miami, travels to Great Stirrup Cay in the Bahamas then sails back to Miami.
    Katie Bain, Billboard, 27 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • This early landmark of Swedish cinema was one of Ingmar Bergman’s favorite movies, and the influence is obvious in eerie scenes where a ghostly driver dressed like the Grim Reaper roams the countryside searching for souls.
    Katie Rife, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Oct. 2025
  • Some locals believe founder Charles Pfister still roams the property, according to reports, and even celebrities like rapper Megan Thee Stallion have gone ghost hunting there.
    Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 25 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
Verb
  • Lo then jumps overboard to escape the assault and swims through the freezing waters to shore.
    Megan McCluskey, Time, 10 Oct. 2025
  • 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
Verb
  • This could then support the idea of a relic magnetic field existing in the intergalactic medium, the matter that drifts between galaxies.
    Robert Lea, Space.com, 5 Nov. 2025
  • Music drifts through the salt air as roadside vendors fry fish on bare concrete slabs, their foodstands long washed away.
    David Culver, CNN Money, 3 Nov. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Floats.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/floats. Accessed 21 Nov. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on floats

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!