float 1 of 2

verb

Definition of floatnext
1
as in to hover
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 to wander
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

float

2 of 2

noun

ˈflōt How to pronounce float (audio)
as in dock
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 float
Verb
That time, the accompanying image was of Iron Man swarmed by those jellyfish guys that float in Pandora’s air. — Bethy Squires, Vulture, 17 Oct. 2026 Relatively warm ocean water can melt the underside of these floating shelves. — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2026
Noun
Crowds will line the route to see floats, costumed actors, spectacular puppets and creative performances. — Doug George, Chicago Tribune, 8 Oct. 2026 Letting someone know your float plan and expected return time. — Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 1 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for float
Recent Examples of Synonyms for float
  1. hover
  2. wander
  3. dock
  4. sail
  5. roam
  6. wharf
  7. swim
  8. drift
Verb
  • At the time of their call, temperatures hovered around 15 degrees, and the pair lacked adequate clothing, food or water to safely endure the night, according to the sheriff’s office.
    — Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026
  • But when Alexander saw the green machine, the tree excavator, feet away from the 100-year-old oak tree that hovers over the corner of Salem Drive and Idlewood Circle, that was not fine.
    — Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of hover
Verb
  • Crowley, once a logging camp, can’t be reached by road, but train passengers can wander among picnic tables, fire pits, cornhole games and a massive, gnarled old redwood known as the Wolf Tree.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Bucks will temporarily abandon much of their natural caution and wander around in unfamiliar territory searching for does.
    — Colin Moore, Outdoor Life, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of wander
Noun
  • Rescues were reported in multiple counties on Saturday, including people found in floodwaters, clinging to a piece of a dock along the Freedom Trail Greenway in Burke County, officials say.
    — Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 15 Oct. 2026
  • The Atlas system is the first-ever modular smart telescope system for Vaonis, with a base dock system fitted with two ports for connecting two imaging modules (an optical tube with a sensor).
    — Harry Bennett, Space.com, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of dock
Verb
  • Launched last year, Louis Vuitton’s multiyear partnership with Real Madrid marked yet another high-profile sports deal for the world’s biggest luxury brand, which is active in disciplines ranging from sailing to Formula 1.
    — Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Henderson picked it up and sailed a throw to first, allowing the tying run to score.
    — Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of sail
Verb
  • More mature than the party hordes that roam this part of town, the vibe here is the casual elegance that blends drinking rum out of a pineapple while retaining your sophistication while doing it.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 13 Oct. 2026
  • More than 180,000 giant tortoises roaming freely on our atoll is proof of what long-term commitment to conservation can achieve.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of roam
Noun
  • Their transatlantic journey is slated to begin in Portsmouth, but once there Håkan loses sight of his brother in the crowds along the wharf.
    — Kathryn Schulz, New Yorker, 21 Sep. 2026
  • But in 1820, Shippingport had about 600 residents, three wharves for steamboats, taverns and a flour mill.
    — Leo Bertucci, Louisville Courier Journal, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of wharf
Verb
  • It’s estimated about 25% of the sunscreen people apply to their skin washes off while swimming or wading in the ocean.
    — Matthew Perrone, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Other marine mammals, such as harbor seals, have also been known to swim into the Delta.
    — Anne Ewbank, Sacbee.com, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of swim
Verb
  • The autumn sun is drifting southward and the angle of shadows is shifting.
    — Dana Kelley, Arkansas Online, 16 Oct. 2026
  • His attention drifts towards intimate details – the bare armpit, the small hollow at the base of Rafael’s neck – and the music follows him into this increasingly private, almost obsessive fascination.
    — Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of drift

Browse Nearby Words

flivvers
float
floated
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Cite this Entry

“Float.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/float. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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