Synonyms of floats

floats 1 of 2

verb

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

• hovers
• sails
• swims
• glides
• drifts
• rides
• wafts
• hangs
• bobs
• poises
• dangles
• suspends
• buoys
• rafts
• balloons

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• sinks
• settles
• plunges
• dives
• dips
• lunges
• submerges
• immerses
• submerses

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

• wanders
• roams
• drifts
• cruises
• strolls
• meanders
• roves
• ranges
• traipses
• knocks (about)
• rambles
• gallivants
• bats
• saunters
• mooches
• ambles
• maunders
• gads (about)
• mopes
• kicks around
• dawdles
• strays
• straggles
• mills (about or around)
• vagabonds
• tramps
• hobos

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

• docks
• wharves
• piers
• quays
• landings
• jetties
• levees
• quais
• moorings
• slips
• berths
• marinas
• shipyards
• dockyards
• embarcaderos
• quayages
• wharfages

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of floats

Verb

The teen was using an apparatus called a third lung, which floats on the water's surface and pumps air to divers through a breathing hose, the affidavit said. — Bill Hutchinson, ABC News, 7 Aug. 2026

As each bubble traps more gas, its buoyancy increases until the bubble floats to the surface. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 5 Aug. 2026

While HoloHolo Grill is the only restaurant onsite, Kōloa Landing Resort does have a free-standing snack shack poolside serving shave ice and root beer floats along with a handy marketplace just off the lobby. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Aug. 2026

Moments later, the toddler calmly rolls onto his back and floats as his instructor watches from just a few feet away. — Jordan Greene, PEOPLE, 4 Aug. 2026

Next season’s hope floats on Curry’s ability to carry the load until Moody and Jimmy Butler, recovering from a torn ACL, return to playing. — Marcus Thompson Ii, New York Times, 2 Aug. 2026

Streaks of light fly down the carriage in one dueling scene, and in the show’s climax, the lights go dark when a dementor — played by a hooded actor puppeteering the creature strapped to their torso — floats down the aisle. — Emily Tarinelli, Los Angeles Times, 29 July 2026

On April 24, a 54-year-old male had a cardiac emergency on the attraction, a gentle boat ride that floats by scenes featuring cheerful puppets. — Dewayne Bevil, The Orlando Sentinel, 17 July 2026

But the County Commission has the power to raise taxes, and the Levine Cava memo floats a higher rate for between 8 and 16 years to raise money for both transit construction and operations. — Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 9 July 2026

Noun

Guests can jump into the sea directly from the back of the ship or enjoy the ship’s compliment of stand-up paddleboards, kayaks, sailboats, foam floats, and water trampoline. — Erica Silverstein, Travel + Leisure, 4 Aug. 2026

Other messages, many of which have now disappeared, told people where to buy wet suits, flippers, goggles, floats, and even waterproof bags for documents and cellphones. — Anne Applebaum, The Atlantic, 2 Aug. 2026

The event draws thousands of spectators to cheer on colorful floats, community groups and local organizations. — Evan Moore august 1, Charlotte Observer, 1 Aug. 2026

The parade will include park characters and six floats designed by in-house Kennywood carpenters, artists and electricians, according to a park press release. — Finch Walker, USA Today, 31 July 2026

Many of the companies have low free floats and significant concentration of ownership, for instance. — Justina Lee, CNBC, 28 July 2026

Before the incident, people had celebrated peacefully, marching through the city for hours, dancing to loud music, and cheering the around 80 floats that participated in the parade. — Kirsten Grieshaber, Chicago Tribune, 25 July 2026

Tasti Whip also offers gluten and dairy-free floats with fun varieties like strawberry, lemon and mango. — Teagan Davidge, Oc Register, 25 July 2026

Before the incident, people had celebrated peacefully, marching through the city for hours, dancing to loud music and cheering some 80 floats that participated in the parade. — Kirsten Grieshaber, Los Angeles Times, 25 July 2026