float 1 of 2

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

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2

float

2 of 2

noun

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

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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
Broken Bow Lake and the Mountain Fork River, which winds through the pine and hardwood forests, offer options like boating, canoeing, water-skiing, scuba diving, trout fishing, or leisurely river floating. Casey Barber, Southern Living, 12 Mar. 2025 Toodles Toodles is a yellow, floating disk that resembles Mickey Mouse's head. Lauryn Higgins, Parents, 12 Mar. 2025
Noun
Re-cover and cook until fragrant and a few small pools of fat float to the surface, about 40 minutes. The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Feb. 2025 The Parade, which winds its way through New York City, culminating at the flagship Macy’s on 34th street, features giant balloons based on classic characters, floats filled with celebrities, and musical performances from artists and Broadway casts. Alex Weprin, The Hollywood Reporter, 25 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for float
Recent Examples of Synonyms for float
Verb
  • Arsenal’s wages had hovered around the £230million mark for years, increasing just £11.5m between 2018 and 2023.
    Chris Weatherspoon, The Athletic, 20 Mar. 2025
  • Rain is possible next week, but chances are only hovering between 20% and 40% on Monday and Tuesday.
    Abigail Hasebroock, Sun Sentinel, 20 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Like Great Sand Dunes in Colorado—one of my favorite national parks—this state park is a beautiful place to roam, explore, and spend a night under a starry sky.
    Maya Silver, Outside Online, 10 Mar. 2025
  • In the 1960s, a quarter of dogs roamed freely, and euthanasia rates in shelters were 10 to 20 times higher.
    William Lambers, Newsweek, 10 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • An extensive park with pools makes this an excellent choice for families, and private tours of the Borromeo Islands depart from the hotel’s boat dock.
    Elizabeth Heath, Travel + Leisure, 16 Mar. 2025
  • The volunteers pulled out propane tanks and metal sheeting, dock remnants and crab traps.
    Melanie Stetson Freeman, The Christian Science Monitor, 4 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • However, things then went from bad to worse for Spaun who could only watch with a bemused expression as his tee shot on the famous par-three 17th sailed way past the green and landed straight in the water.
    Matias Grez, CNN, 17 Mar. 2025
  • His ball cut through the wind and sailed clear over the green into the water, leading to a triple bogey that ended his hopes.
    Doug Ferguson, Chicago Tribune, 17 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Elderly residents wandered off without supervision, medications weren’t properly administered, and emergency pull cords in some bedrooms didn’t work, the state alleged.
    Emily Alpert Reyes, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2025
  • Visitors can wander over 50 acres of natural beauty, including an interactive area for children, a wetland garden featuring native species, and a dedicated space housing over 1,500 roses.
    Jennifer Prince, Southern Living, 18 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • With his drone, Pan captured images of Space Launch complexes, military weapons bunkers, a payload processing facility and a submarine wharf, according to prosecutors.
    Julia Marnin, Miami Herald, 14 Feb. 2025
  • The wharf has been closed off to the public since Monday’s high surf.
    Kate Talerico, The Mercury News, 27 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • On the longer three-day voyages, guests will also be taken to the sand dunes of Taka Makassar, a snorkeling excursion at Manta Point — naturally with plenty of manta rays to swim with — and a trip to Mawan Island for more swimming, hiking or just relaxing on the beach.
    Adam Morganstern, Forbes, 13 Mar. 2025
  • Spend your days tanning on the beach, or get active hiking trails with panoramic views, riding buggies through rolling hills, whale watching or swimming with stingrays at Stingray City.
    Danielle Pointdujour, Essence, 13 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Meanwhile, everyone else managed to drift in a wooden boat on the waters in darkness for the next 10 hours.
    Latoya Gayle, People.com, 15 Mar. 2025
  • With Isak pulling into those wider left channels in Newcastle’s attack, there are even occasions of Van Dijk being willing to drift out of position — running across his own centre-back — to follow the Sweden international rather than pass him onto a team-mate.
    Mark Carey, The Athletic, 15 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Float.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/float. Accessed 23 Mar. 2025.

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