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
Saks Global’s bankruptcy is claiming nearly 10 stores in its latest move to stay afloat.
—
Brian Womack, Dallas Morning News, 10 Feb. 2026
To stay afloat, Esnard exhausted his personal credit limit.
—Scott Horsley, NPR, 9 Feb. 2026
While Utah needed the loss in order to help secure better positioning in June’s NBA draft, Orlando needed the win just as badly to help remain afloat in the Eastern Conference playoff race.
—Jason Beede, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Feb. 2026
The resulting funding gap meant Edwards and his leadership team had to get creative in order to keep the organization afloat.
—Natalie Wallington, MLK50, 3 Feb. 2026
As result, consumers hoard their money instead of spending it, forcing businesses to trim wages, staff and prices to remain afloat.
—Jason Ma, Fortune, 1 Feb. 2026
Utah answered behind Keyonte George and Kyle Filipowski, who found a rhythm of their own, but Dëmin’s shot-making and a balanced Nets bench effort kept Brooklyn afloat.
—C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 31 Jan. 2026
In 2018, Chicago attorney Len Goodman and real estate developer Elzie Higginbottom bought the Reader from the Chicago Sun-Times for $1 and the assumption of debt, rescuing it from dissolution and pumping more than $1 million each into the alternative newspaper to keep it afloat.
—Robert Channick, Chicago Tribune, 30 Jan. 2026
King suggested that a short-term continuing resolution could keep FEMA and other agencies afloat.
—Garrett Downs,emily Wilkins, CNBC, 28 Jan. 2026
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Brian Womack, Dallas Morning News, 10 Feb. 2026
To stay afloat, Esnard exhausted his personal credit limit.
—Scott Horsley, NPR, 9 Feb. 2026
While Utah needed the loss in order to help secure better positioning in June’s NBA draft, Orlando needed the win just as badly to help remain afloat in the Eastern Conference playoff race.
—Jason Beede, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Feb. 2026
The resulting funding gap meant Edwards and his leadership team had to get creative in order to keep the organization afloat.
—Natalie Wallington, MLK50, 3 Feb. 2026
As result, consumers hoard their money instead of spending it, forcing businesses to trim wages, staff and prices to remain afloat.
—Jason Ma, Fortune, 1 Feb. 2026
Utah answered behind Keyonte George and Kyle Filipowski, who found a rhythm of their own, but Dëmin’s shot-making and a balanced Nets bench effort kept Brooklyn afloat.
—C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 31 Jan. 2026
In 2018, Chicago attorney Len Goodman and real estate developer Elzie Higginbottom bought the Reader from the Chicago Sun-Times for $1 and the assumption of debt, rescuing it from dissolution and pumping more than $1 million each into the alternative newspaper to keep it afloat.
—Robert Channick, Chicago Tribune, 30 Jan. 2026
King suggested that a short-term continuing resolution could keep FEMA and other agencies afloat.
—Garrett Downs,emily Wilkins, CNBC, 28 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Afloat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/afloat. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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