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
Delia Rose Sauer, Miami Herald, 11 June 2026
The parade will feature colorful floats, marching bands, community groups, special guests and entertainers.
—Kate Gray, CBS News, 9 June 2026
Historically, large IPOs with average initial floats of less than 10% of outstanding shares see that figure balloon to around 46% a year after their debuts, according to data compiled by Goldman Sachs.
—Jeran Wittenstein, Fortune, 7 June 2026
Fans were clacking and music was bumping as floats, cars and dancers filled Broadway Boulevard.
—Sophia Buonpane, Kansas City Star, 6 June 2026
With time, more people started celebrating Pride, and the march turned into more of a celebratory parade with floats, music, costumes, and parties.
—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
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
The wafting smell of buttery grits floats in the air and the sound of oil crackling in pans bounces off concrete walls.
—Delia Rose Sauer, Miami Herald, 11 June 2026
The parade will feature colorful floats, marching bands, community groups, special guests and entertainers.
—Kate Gray, CBS News, 9 June 2026
Historically, large IPOs with average initial floats of less than 10% of outstanding shares see that figure balloon to around 46% a year after their debuts, according to data compiled by Goldman Sachs.
—Jeran Wittenstein, Fortune, 7 June 2026
Fans were clacking and music was bumping as floats, cars and dancers filled Broadway Boulevard.
—Sophia Buonpane, Kansas City Star, 6 June 2026
With time, more people started celebrating Pride, and the march turned into more of a celebratory parade with floats, music, costumes, and parties.
—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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for floats
Verb
-
Their water content hovers around 16%, and butter is made up of 1-4% vitamins, minerals, lactose and protein.—
Rosemary Trout,
The Conversation,
10 June 2026
-
Mark Bezos—Jeff’s brother—hovers around the bar.—
Sam Stone,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
2 June 2026
Verb
-
Klepper wanders the streets talks to people about the state of America and the current political administration.—
Ethan Shanfeld,
Variety,
4 June 2026
-
The Littlest Hobo will be a live-action drama reimagining of the classic Canadian TV series, which first aired in Canada in 1979 about an ownerless German Shepherd dog who wanders from town to town helping people.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
4 June 2026
Noun
-
Whether your summer travels involve hiking trails, exploring rocky shorelines, or navigating slippery docks, Sharkey said these Keen sport sandals are up to the task.—
Alexandra Emanuelli,
Southern Living,
5 June 2026
-
Near the end of the night, several students reportedly made an impromptu decision to swim in the river near Dartmouth's student docks.—
Corin Cesaric,
PEOPLE,
2 June 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
-
North Carolina will be under the microscope as long as Bill Belichick roams the sidelines in Chapel Hill.—
Antonio Morales,
New York Times,
5 June 2026
-
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
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
-
Cricket drifts far from the contemporary arts scene.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 June 2026
-
On Sunday mornings, families gather by the docks along Lake Erie, while church music drifts across the water.—
Kiara Moore,
The Washington Examiner,
7 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Floats.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/floats. Accessed 12 Jun. 2026.
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