afloat
adjective or adverb
1
a
: borne on or as if on the water
b
: being at sea
2
: free of difficulties : self-sufficient
the inheritance kept them afloat for years
3
a
: circulating about
Silly rumors were afloat.
b
: adrift
Examples of afloat in a Sentence
the boat can't stay afloat much longer
Recent Examples on the Web
When hard financial times hit the nation, Rosenwald used his own money to keep the company and his co-workers afloat.
—
Edie Kasten, CBS News, 16 May 2026
Some schools fail to stay financially afloat in today’s challenging environment.
—Anna Esaki-Smith, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026
The money Schwartz received will be put immediately toward paying suppliers for bills delayed in order to stay afloat.
—Elisabeth Buchwald, CNN Money, 13 May 2026
During the Great Depression, the business stayed afloat while offering hot dogs for a nickel, chili for a dime and sometimes food for free.
—Anna Ortiz, Chicago Tribune, 9 May 2026
The university has vowed to continue to draw from CU’s general fund to keep The Deion Sanders Experiment afloat.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 9 May 2026
From school closures to neighborhoods full of tourists instead of residents, our District 2 community needs help staying afloat.
—David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 May 2026
When Perry’s parents divorced, her mother, too arrogant to sustain a conventional job, resorted to other ways to keep the family afloat.
—Pamela Chelin, Los Angeles Times, 7 May 2026
Like many independent restaurants, Jon’s navigated a shifting culinary landscape in recent years, from pandemic disruptions to rising costs, all while making incremental changes to stay afloat, including adding beer and wine and participating in the Dana Point Harbor Certified Farmers Market.
—Brock Keeling, Oc Register, 2 May 2026
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Edie Kasten, CBS News, 16 May 2026
Some schools fail to stay financially afloat in today’s challenging environment.
—Anna Esaki-Smith, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026
The money Schwartz received will be put immediately toward paying suppliers for bills delayed in order to stay afloat.
—Elisabeth Buchwald, CNN Money, 13 May 2026
During the Great Depression, the business stayed afloat while offering hot dogs for a nickel, chili for a dime and sometimes food for free.
—Anna Ortiz, Chicago Tribune, 9 May 2026
The university has vowed to continue to draw from CU’s general fund to keep The Deion Sanders Experiment afloat.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 9 May 2026
From school closures to neighborhoods full of tourists instead of residents, our District 2 community needs help staying afloat.
—David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 May 2026
When Perry’s parents divorced, her mother, too arrogant to sustain a conventional job, resorted to other ways to keep the family afloat.
—Pamela Chelin, Los Angeles Times, 7 May 2026
Like many independent restaurants, Jon’s navigated a shifting culinary landscape in recent years, from pandemic disruptions to rising costs, all while making incremental changes to stay afloat, including adding beer and wine and participating in the Dana Point Harbor Certified Farmers Market.
—Brock Keeling, Oc Register, 2 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Afloat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/afloat. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
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