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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of floats
Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 14 May 2026
Trump floats a pause on the federal gas tax.
—Adam Beam, AJC.com, 14 May 2026
Residents say another invasive plant, Eichhornia crassipes, which floats on the water’s surface, has long been present in the lagoon and also disrupts fishing and transport, though its impact has been less sudden.
—ABC News, 12 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, 9 May 2026
Known as Wingspan, the 6,150-square-foot residence takes its name from the parabolic roofline that floats above the structure like an airplane wing.
—Tori Latham, Robb Report, 8 May 2026
Hathaway’s White Queen floats with sweet highs and dark lows, her heavenly air masking a morbid psychosis.
—Chris Feil, Vulture, 1 May 2026
One idea the team floats is that zinc and manganese are limited resources, so scorpions can only reinforce the most critical parts of the stingers instead of spreading the metals across their entire exoskeleton.
—Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 1 May 2026
The toxic dust floats to neighboring states, such as Wyoming and Idaho during strong wind events.
—Saige Miller, NPR, 24 Apr. 2026
News Release, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 May 2026
The cupcake-frosted Neoclassical villas and grand hotels, decorated with swoopy Art Nouveau curlicues, are artifacts of the Belle Époque, left behind like parade floats by the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
—Kevin West, Travel + Leisure, 8 May 2026
The most popular dirty sodas mimic familiar flavors from childhood — orange creamsicles, cherry vanilla cola and root beer floats.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Kansas City Star, 5 May 2026
There will be floats, performers and community groups parading down Chapman Avenue.
—Heather McRea, Oc Register, 30 Apr. 2026
Those floats, however, were not engineered for an animal of Chonkers’ caliber.
—Samantha Agate, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Apr. 2026
For the California sea lions — which can grow up to 700 pounds, per NOAA — harbor staff can gently guide them to one of the 42 wooden floats so boaters can go about their business.
—Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 28 Apr. 2026
This is why ice floats, and why bodies of water freeze from the top down, allowing underwater life to survive the winter.
—Shalma Wegsman, Quanta Magazine, 27 Apr. 2026
Three people were rescued Wednesday off the northern Outer Banks, after winds blew their floats more than a mile away from the coast, the Corolla Fire & Rescue Squad reported in an April 22 news release.
—Mark Price
april 23, Charlotte Observer, 23 Apr. 2026
Verb
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
Trump floats a pause on the federal gas tax.
—Adam Beam, AJC.com, 14 May 2026
Residents say another invasive plant, Eichhornia crassipes, which floats on the water’s surface, has long been present in the lagoon and also disrupts fishing and transport, though its impact has been less sudden.
—ABC News, 12 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, 9 May 2026
Known as Wingspan, the 6,150-square-foot residence takes its name from the parabolic roofline that floats above the structure like an airplane wing.
—Tori Latham, Robb Report, 8 May 2026
Hathaway’s White Queen floats with sweet highs and dark lows, her heavenly air masking a morbid psychosis.
—Chris Feil, Vulture, 1 May 2026
One idea the team floats is that zinc and manganese are limited resources, so scorpions can only reinforce the most critical parts of the stingers instead of spreading the metals across their entire exoskeleton.
—Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 1 May 2026
The toxic dust floats to neighboring states, such as Wyoming and Idaho during strong wind events.
—Saige Miller, NPR, 24 Apr. 2026
Noun
Volunteers also served classic treats like rooter floats, doughnuts, and candy.
—News Release, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 May 2026
The cupcake-frosted Neoclassical villas and grand hotels, decorated with swoopy Art Nouveau curlicues, are artifacts of the Belle Époque, left behind like parade floats by the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
—Kevin West, Travel + Leisure, 8 May 2026
The most popular dirty sodas mimic familiar flavors from childhood — orange creamsicles, cherry vanilla cola and root beer floats.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Kansas City Star, 5 May 2026
There will be floats, performers and community groups parading down Chapman Avenue.
—Heather McRea, Oc Register, 30 Apr. 2026
Those floats, however, were not engineered for an animal of Chonkers’ caliber.
—Samantha Agate, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Apr. 2026
For the California sea lions — which can grow up to 700 pounds, per NOAA — harbor staff can gently guide them to one of the 42 wooden floats so boaters can go about their business.
—Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 28 Apr. 2026
This is why ice floats, and why bodies of water freeze from the top down, allowing underwater life to survive the winter.
—Shalma Wegsman, Quanta Magazine, 27 Apr. 2026
Three people were rescued Wednesday off the northern Outer Banks, after winds blew their floats more than a mile away from the coast, the Corolla Fire & Rescue Squad reported in an April 22 news release.
—Mark Price
april 23, Charlotte Observer, 23 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for floats
Verb
-
Average annual income hovers around $58,000, reflecting a shortage of high-wage opportunities.—
Linh Tat,
Oc Register,
4 May 2026
-
Towing capacity hovers around 6,500 pounds (2,948 kg), depending on configuration.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
3 May 2026
Verb
-
The New Zealand singer-songwriter wanders around inside her psychedelic folk arrangements, singing in private riddles and changing the tone of her voice from one song (or even one verse) to the next, seemingly oblivious or indifferent to your presence.—
Jayson Greene,
Pitchfork,
8 May 2026
-
For animal lovers, there’s a house cat that wanders the property, and morning walks may include up-close encounters with Highland cows or a free-roaming peacock.—
Emily Longeretta,
Variety,
7 May 2026
Noun
-
Make the short drive north to the 150-year-old fishing village of Mayport to feast on local shrimp alongside working fishing docks bustling with boats delivering the daily catch.—
Terry Ward,
Travel + Leisure,
9 May 2026
-
Cabin rentals, boat docks and a general store also are available to visitors, according to the park’s website.—
Corey Schmidt,
Sacbee.com,
6 May 2026
Verb
-
The neutrino is a nearly weightless particle that sails through matter like a phantasm.—
Joseph Howlett,
Scientific American,
8 May 2026
-
Sooner or later, every ship sails off into the sunset.—
Elizabeth Heath,
Travel + Leisure,
1 May 2026
Verb
-
Fernandes then roams towards that wing to support his team-mates and be in a position to attack the space behind Fulham left-back Ryan Sessegnon.—
Ahmed Walid,
New York Times,
22 Apr. 2026
-
The five-person cast roams the room, sitting at various circular tables to blur the lines between script and improvisation.—
Todd Martens,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Mar. 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
-
In addition to running, Carmona swims a mile on his off-days and does daily two-mile dog walks.—
Erin Clack,
PEOPLE,
10 May 2026
-
Harry Styles uses ice baths for post-show recovery and frequently swims outdoors, including dips at Dublin’s Vico Baths.—
Hanna Wickes,
Sacbee.com,
9 May 2026
Verb
-
The road drifts, then gets back on track.—
Michelle F. Solomon,
Miami Herald,
12 May 2026
-
The song slowly drifts away, its job completed.—
Ben Cardew,
Pitchfork,
2 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Floats.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/floats. Accessed 18 May. 2026.
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