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
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
Ralph Tuttle,
Outdoor Life,
25 June 2026
When the tank is full, the robot automatically floats to the surface and parks itself in a corner of the pool for emptying, which is a breeze thanks to a pop-out basket.
—
K. Thor Jensen,
PC Magazine,
25 June 2026
When the sun goes down, stake out a spot at any Magic Kingdom-area resort beach for the Electrical Water Pageant, a procession of illuminated sea creatures that floats across the lagoon every night.
—
Jacqueline Dole,
Southern Living,
23 June 2026
The insoles, outsoles, and straps are all constructed from a flexible TPU material that water floats right off of.
—
Amelia McBride,
Travel + Leisure,
22 June 2026
People hold their phones up to improve their views of the parade floats on Maiden Lane and Broadway.
—
Amina Kilpatrick,
NBC news,
19 June 2026
As if value just floats in thin air and evil aldermen are firing bazookas in its saintly direction.
—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
19 June 2026
The plush toy was selected from thousands of submissions to serve as the mission's zero-gravity indicator -- an object that floats once a spacecraft reaches weightlessness.
—
ABC News,
18 June 2026
Outside, a marble statue floats in a trickling fountain.
—
Jenna Thompson
june 16,
Kansas City Star,
16 June 2026
Alex Nitzberg,
FOXNews.com,
3 July 2026
Philadelphia's America 250 parade set for July 3 was canceled, a disappointing end for some as floats were all lined up and ready to go that morning, reported the Delaware News Journal, part of the USA TODAY Network.
—
Jeanine Santucci,
USA Today,
3 July 2026
Local food and beverage trucks will be available at Cecil Andrus Park, along with vendor booths, interactive, hands-on activities for kids and a close-up display of the Fourth of July parade floats.
—
Hali Smith,
Idaho Statesman,
2 July 2026
Duncan would stand on floats and toss candy during his dad’s campaign rallies.
—
Alex Zietlow
july 1,
Charlotte Observer,
1 July 2026
On Saturday, the city will host its 50th annual Fourth of July parade, including floats, bands and vintage cars.
—
Yvonne Zusel,
AJC.com,
30 June 2026
Borrowing inspiration from the Rose Parade, the floats feature everything from silk flowers to coffee beans, crushed pine cones and cranberry seeds.
—
Nikki Dementri,
CBS News,
23 June 2026
These treats inspired by ice cream floats will be the talk of the party.
—
Patricia S York,
Southern Living,
23 June 2026
The case is waterproof, floats, and comes with a stylish crossbody strap.
—
Melony Forcier,
Travel + Leisure,
23 June 2026
Verb
This time the fly lands just above the spot and floats its way down.
—
Ralph Tuttle,
Outdoor Life,
25 June 2026
When the tank is full, the robot automatically floats to the surface and parks itself in a corner of the pool for emptying, which is a breeze thanks to a pop-out basket.
—
K. Thor Jensen,
PC Magazine,
25 June 2026
When the sun goes down, stake out a spot at any Magic Kingdom-area resort beach for the Electrical Water Pageant, a procession of illuminated sea creatures that floats across the lagoon every night.
—
Jacqueline Dole,
Southern Living,
23 June 2026
The insoles, outsoles, and straps are all constructed from a flexible TPU material that water floats right off of.
—
Amelia McBride,
Travel + Leisure,
22 June 2026
People hold their phones up to improve their views of the parade floats on Maiden Lane and Broadway.
—
Amina Kilpatrick,
NBC news,
19 June 2026
As if value just floats in thin air and evil aldermen are firing bazookas in its saintly direction.
—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
19 June 2026
The plush toy was selected from thousands of submissions to serve as the mission's zero-gravity indicator -- an object that floats once a spacecraft reaches weightlessness.
—
ABC News,
18 June 2026
Outside, a marble statue floats in a trickling fountain.
—
Jenna Thompson
june 16,
Kansas City Star,
16 June 2026
Noun
The parade had been slated to include floats and marching bands, according to an event description.
—
Alex Nitzberg,
FOXNews.com,
3 July 2026
Philadelphia's America 250 parade set for July 3 was canceled, a disappointing end for some as floats were all lined up and ready to go that morning, reported the Delaware News Journal, part of the USA TODAY Network.
—
Jeanine Santucci,
USA Today,
3 July 2026
Local food and beverage trucks will be available at Cecil Andrus Park, along with vendor booths, interactive, hands-on activities for kids and a close-up display of the Fourth of July parade floats.
—
Hali Smith,
Idaho Statesman,
2 July 2026
Duncan would stand on floats and toss candy during his dad’s campaign rallies.
—
Alex Zietlow
july 1,
Charlotte Observer,
1 July 2026
On Saturday, the city will host its 50th annual Fourth of July parade, including floats, bands and vintage cars.
—
Yvonne Zusel,
AJC.com,
30 June 2026
Borrowing inspiration from the Rose Parade, the floats feature everything from silk flowers to coffee beans, crushed pine cones and cranberry seeds.
—
Nikki Dementri,
CBS News,
23 June 2026
These treats inspired by ice cream floats will be the talk of the party.
—
Patricia S York,
Southern Living,
23 June 2026
The case is waterproof, floats, and comes with a stylish crossbody strap.
—
Melony Forcier,
Travel + Leisure,
23 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for floats
Verb
-
As a result, Skywalkers hovers between a sense of constant performance and disarming immediacy — the latter generally during the many vertigo-inducing drone shots of Ivan and Angela’s hair-raising accomplishments.
-
Their water content hovers around 16%, and butter is made up of 1-4% vitamins, minerals, lactose and protein.
Verb
-
There are legends of ghost sightings and spooky happenings on the dirt road, like the woman who reportedly wanders it in the dark, crying out for her children.
-
Jim wanders the city and teams up with a tough survivalist, Selena, a lethal widower Frank and his daughter Hannah.
Noun
-
The development includes boat access, docks and community gathering spaces.
-
That is the piece that could change how loading docks operate.
Verb
-
Star of the Seas still sails out of Port Canaveral, housing guests on what is tied for the title of world’s largest cruise ship.
-
As the ship sails the Antarctic Peninsula, passengers go on excursions, such as taking a Zodiac or kayaking, to view wildlife and immerse themselves in nature.
Verb
-
North Carolina will be under the microscope as long as Bill Belichick roams the sidelines in Chapel Hill.
-
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.
Noun
-
Vanuatu has received large loans and aid from China for buildings, wharves and other infrastructure.
-
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.
Verb
-
Some of them have commanded many millions at auction, like 1972’s Portrait of an Artist (Pool with Two Figures), showing a man looking into the pool as another man swims underwater to the edge.
-
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.
Verb
-
For fireworks, this means that visibility Friday along the coast could be impaired as the marine layer drifts in and out, but visibility will generally be much better Saturday, especially just a few miles inland.
-
Confrontation, feedback, accountability, the naming of a difficult dynamic, all of it drifts upward to the person in charge.
Cite this Entry
“Floats.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/floats. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
