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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to roam
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 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
Hannah Sacks, People.com, 2 June 2025
Spire Motorsports co-owner Jeff Dickerson, never one for excess sentimentality, admitted the idea had been floating around for a while.
—Greg Engle, Forbes.com, 2 June 2025
Jordan Novet, CNBC, 27 May 2025
Rather, bring your pool noodles and floats (individual-sized only).
—Melissa Oyler, Charlotte Observer, 22 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for float
Verb
On Sunday, June 1, the wife of the late Kobe Bryant posted a meme on her Instagram Stories of Rihanna floating in water, wearing goggles on her head, holding a drink and flipping off the camera.
—Hannah Sacks, People.com, 2 June 2025
Spire Motorsports co-owner Jeff Dickerson, never one for excess sentimentality, admitted the idea had been floating around for a while.
—Greg Engle, Forbes.com, 2 June 2025
Noun
In some cases, companies need insiders to sell stock just so there’s enough float for there to be a market for trading.
—Jordan Novet, CNBC, 27 May 2025
Rather, bring your pool noodles and floats (individual-sized only).
—Melissa Oyler, Charlotte Observer, 22 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for float
Recent Examples of Synonyms for float
Verb
-
Police helicopters hovered as marchers wove between vehicles.—
Caroline Kubzansky,
Chicago Tribune,
11 June 2025
-
There’s also more heightened genre elements, including explosions, gun fights and a mysterious corporate private plane hovering over the desert.—
Lauren Coates,
Variety,
10 June 2025
Verb
-
Tesla’s robotaxis will roam city streets, and humanoid robots dubbed Optimus will perform everyday tasks.—
Caroline Petrow-Cohen,
Los Angeles Times,
5 June 2025
-
Depending on the weather and other conditions such as wildfires, rattlesnakes may roam at any time of the day or night.—
Ashley Fredde,
Idaho Statesman,
4 June 2025
Noun
-
The small harbor tugboat tows vessels to and from the Marine Group’s boat lift piers and docks.—
Rob Nikolewski,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
6 June 2025
-
With a dock capable of 4K, the Switch 2 looked great on my TV.—
Jordan Minor,
PC Magazine,
5 June 2025
Verb
-
Imagine a cargo ship sailing into the Chesapeake Bay and launching hundred of drones at Washington D.C. and the Norfolk naval base.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
6 June 2025
-
Both ships can be seen sailing in formation in the photos, while the Lhasa is shown launching a missile and firing its main gun at a target.—
Ryan Chan,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 June 2025
Verb
-
Then of course, there’s wandering through some of the region’s rich history.—
Tom Hyland,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2025
-
July is your season to wander off the map and breathe easier.—
Allison Palmer,
Charlotte Observer,
11 June 2025
Noun
-
City officials hope the signs, fencing, orange safety barriers and exposed wooden decking at the end of the wharf will be gone by early next year.—
Hailey Branson-Potts,
Los Angeles Times,
8 June 2025
-
The wharf has more than 4,400 wooden pilings, made of Douglas Fir.—
Paul Rogers,
Mercury News,
24 May 2025
Verb
-
Still, seeing an animal that size in a place where people typically kayak, swim, and anchor boats is enough to give anyone pause.—
Melissa Cristina Márquez,
Forbes.com,
5 June 2025
-
Average Breath-Holding Times Breath-holding is a technique used when diving or swimming in the water.—
Patty Weasler,
Verywell Health,
4 June 2025
Verb
-
The Switch's most famous durability issue has been the Joy-Con controllers that have experienced drifting problems, but that's only part of the story here.—
James Peckham,
PC Magazine,
6 June 2025
-
The smoke has drifted south and east, creating moderate air quality levels for a large swath of central and southeastern states, according to AirNow.gov.—
Janet Loehrke,
USA Today,
5 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Float.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/float. Accessed 16 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share