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
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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
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
semafor.com, 29 May 2026
Connor McDavid almost floats above the ice, faster than anyone in the sport’s history.
—Josh Yohe, New York Times, 27 May 2026
Colossal also confirmed that, due to density differences, the yolk naturally floats to the top of the container, with the embryo rotating to the top of that.
—ArsTechnica, 20 May 2026
Throw something that floats and call 9-1-1.
—Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 18 May 2026
An older egg will tilt or stand upright on the bottom, and one that floats has accumulated significant air.
—Anne Wolf, Martha Stewart, 17 May 2026
Out back, a small sewage-treatment plant converts bodily waste from two flanking portable toilets into purified water, which is piped into a large tank in which yet another unclothed woman, wearing a scuba mouthpiece, floats for four hours at a time.
—Sebastian Smee, The Atlantic, 16 May 2026
The show has already done these misleading posters, including one where Homelander floats in space, watching nukes go off on Earth below.
—Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 16 May 2026
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, 14 May 2026
Sophie Lindberg, Kansas City Star, 4 June 2026
Many cities host big Pride parades with floats and lots of fanfare.
—Allison Hope, Parents, 3 June 2026
Haunted Mansion props on the parade floats will include the conservatory casket, cryptic gravestones, gargoyle candleholders, haunted armor and stretching room portraits, according to the concept art.
—Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 2 June 2026
It’s made of durable, rust-resistant resin, is lockable and scratch resistant, and easily accommodates pool floats, chair cushions, and more.
—Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 June 2026
For summer's unofficial fizzy drink, order a round of floats at the Root Beer Barrel.
—Ginger Crichton, Midwest Living, 2 June 2026
Community and unity were the dominant themes as scores of people lined the parade route watching colorful floats, and thousands came to the lakefront for the fifth-annual Waukegan Pride Parade and Festival.
—Steve Sadin, Chicago Tribune, 1 June 2026
Seven years ago, former Pasadena Mayor Terry Tornek opposed the extension to PCC, saying bigger bus stops required by the BRT would block the floats in the Tournament of Roses Parade.
—Steve Scauzillo, Daily News, 27 May 2026
Explore the Russian River Valley, home to rustic small towns, scenic river floats, and towering redwood trees.
—Chelsee Lowe, Travel + Leisure, 25 May 2026
Verb
Elon Musk reportedly floats SpaceX, Tesla merger Elon Musk has reportedly discussed merging SpaceX with Tesla, a deal that would give the world’s richest person even more control over his sprawling tech empire.
—semafor.com, 29 May 2026
Connor McDavid almost floats above the ice, faster than anyone in the sport’s history.
—Josh Yohe, New York Times, 27 May 2026
Colossal also confirmed that, due to density differences, the yolk naturally floats to the top of the container, with the embryo rotating to the top of that.
—ArsTechnica, 20 May 2026
Throw something that floats and call 9-1-1.
—Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 18 May 2026
An older egg will tilt or stand upright on the bottom, and one that floats has accumulated significant air.
—Anne Wolf, Martha Stewart, 17 May 2026
Out back, a small sewage-treatment plant converts bodily waste from two flanking portable toilets into purified water, which is piped into a large tank in which yet another unclothed woman, wearing a scuba mouthpiece, floats for four hours at a time.
—Sebastian Smee, The Atlantic, 16 May 2026
The show has already done these misleading posters, including one where Homelander floats in space, watching nukes go off on Earth below.
—Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 16 May 2026
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, 14 May 2026
Noun
Saturday, June 6 A spirited staple of KC Pride, floats and members of the LGBTQIA+ community will march starting at Westport Road and Broadway Boulevard.
—Sophie Lindberg, Kansas City Star, 4 June 2026
Many cities host big Pride parades with floats and lots of fanfare.
—Allison Hope, Parents, 3 June 2026
Haunted Mansion props on the parade floats will include the conservatory casket, cryptic gravestones, gargoyle candleholders, haunted armor and stretching room portraits, according to the concept art.
—Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 2 June 2026
It’s made of durable, rust-resistant resin, is lockable and scratch resistant, and easily accommodates pool floats, chair cushions, and more.
—Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 June 2026
For summer's unofficial fizzy drink, order a round of floats at the Root Beer Barrel.
—Ginger Crichton, Midwest Living, 2 June 2026
Community and unity were the dominant themes as scores of people lined the parade route watching colorful floats, and thousands came to the lakefront for the fifth-annual Waukegan Pride Parade and Festival.
—Steve Sadin, Chicago Tribune, 1 June 2026
Seven years ago, former Pasadena Mayor Terry Tornek opposed the extension to PCC, saying bigger bus stops required by the BRT would block the floats in the Tournament of Roses Parade.
—Steve Scauzillo, Daily News, 27 May 2026
Explore the Russian River Valley, home to rustic small towns, scenic river floats, and towering redwood trees.
—Chelsee Lowe, Travel + Leisure, 25 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for floats
Verb
-
Mark Bezos—Jeff’s brother—hovers around the bar.—
Sam Stone,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
2 June 2026
-
Astrology, a pursuit that hovers in the nebulous space between science and storytelling, is not exactly a robust academic field, and LaFaive had no scholarly studies of Goodman’s life or work to consult.—
Rachel Syme,
New Yorker,
1 June 2026
Verb
-
The film is at its best early on, as Clark wanders through a physical environment that, to his mind and ours, has no obvious origin and no clear reason to exist.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
31 May 2026
-
Nova Scotia might not be where your mind wanders when thinking of a stereotypical surf scene—but the raw coastline and Atlantic swells do actually make for some pretty great surfing when the weather is participating.—
Kaitlyn McInnis,
Forbes.com,
26 May 2026
Noun
-
Several consolidation docks between the inbound and outbound sides of the building will handle vendor shipments.—
Aldo Svaldi,
Denver Post,
31 May 2026
-
Private docks mean boating, wake surfing, paddleboarding and swimming without the logistics of public access.—
Spencer Elliott,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
My itinerary with Victory – which also sails along the East Coast and in the Canadian Maritimes – lasted nine nights from Chicago to Toronto.—
Nathan Diller,
USA Today,
1 June 2026
-
Before the quartet of late November and December holiday sailings begins, the ship sails an almost identical route along the Seine between March and November.—
Chrissie McClatchie,
Travel + Leisure,
31 May 2026
Verb
-
Today, the herd roams the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge and is managed in partnership with the local fire company, which hosts the annual pony swim—a beloved local tradition.—
Travel + Leisure Editors,
Travel + Leisure,
19 May 2026
-
In one scene, Misael disappears entirely from the forest as the canine roams around in the background while a calf grazes up front.—
Vadim Rizov,
IndieWire,
16 May 2026
Noun
-
In San Isidro, a movement was born Castillo and Otero grew up in San Isidro, a working class, hardscrabble neighborhood abutting the wharfs near the Port of Havana, and became friends – one a rapper, the other a visual artist.—
Rick Jervis,
USA Today,
13 May 2026
-
The wharves and warehouses along Pratt Street burned fiercely.—
Jacques Kelly,
Baltimore Sun,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Speaking in a new interview with Today, published Wednesday, May 27, Michigan resident Betty Morris, who turned 101 on May 13 and still drives and swims daily, revealed her top four tips for longevity.—
Gabrielle Rockson,
PEOPLE,
28 May 2026
-
Even Jason Momoa swims in, but in a non-Aquaman role.—
Randy Myers,
Mercury News,
23 May 2026
Verb
-
Smoke from the front burners has farther to travel, and a lot of it drifts sideways into the kitchen before the hood can catch it.—
Angela Haupt,
Time,
3 June 2026
-
The smell of simmering garlic and tomatoes drifts through the casual dining rooms where families gather around crowded tables.—
Eva Remijan-Toba,
Chicago Tribune,
2 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Floats.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/floats. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.
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