1
as in hovers
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 wanders
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 docks
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
Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of floats
Chris Waugh, The Athletic, 23 Dec. 2024
His New Orleans drawl floats over the speedy hi-hats and rapid drum pattern.
—Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 20 Dec. 2024
Our room was hidden under the earth, where elephants roam above and a breeze floats in from the vast expanses beyond.
—Lucy Edwards, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 Dec. 2024
Annette floats the idea of moving in with Shelly and paying rent, which Shelly shuts down.
—Eric Andersson, People.com, 13 Dec. 2024
The Pistons’ star floats to the corner for a wide-open three.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 8 Dec. 2024
The camera now floats just behind the character’s head, depicting work and home, love stories and painful reunions, fleeting observations and a reckoning with the past, as if from two points of view simultaneously—one visual and one spectral, bringing absence to life along with presence.
—Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 6 Dec. 2024
Like a spooky space ship, a brine shrimp seemingly floats through space.
—Cecilia Rodriguez, Forbes, 20 Oct. 2024
And then, at some point, her mom floats by her.
—Taylor Wilson, USA TODAY, 17 Oct. 2024
Verb
Chelsea and Arsenal have been heavily linked but, unless anyone floats a fee significantly north of £100million, Newcastle will simply not countenance losing a player who is contracted until 2028.
—Chris Waugh, The Athletic, 23 Dec. 2024
His New Orleans drawl floats over the speedy hi-hats and rapid drum pattern.
—Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 20 Dec. 2024
Our room was hidden under the earth, where elephants roam above and a breeze floats in from the vast expanses beyond.
—Lucy Edwards, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 Dec. 2024
Annette floats the idea of moving in with Shelly and paying rent, which Shelly shuts down.
—Eric Andersson, People.com, 13 Dec. 2024
The Pistons’ star floats to the corner for a wide-open three.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 8 Dec. 2024
The camera now floats just behind the character’s head, depicting work and home, love stories and painful reunions, fleeting observations and a reckoning with the past, as if from two points of view simultaneously—one visual and one spectral, bringing absence to life along with presence.
—Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 6 Dec. 2024
Like a spooky space ship, a brine shrimp seemingly floats through space.
—Cecilia Rodriguez, Forbes, 20 Oct. 2024
And then, at some point, her mom floats by her.
—Taylor Wilson, USA TODAY, 17 Oct. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for floats
Verb
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An atmosphere of political mistrust hovers over this city, and race is never far from the surface because of decades of neglect of the city’s west side.Steve Bousquet, Sun Sentinel, 21 Dec. 2024
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There are only a few hours of daylight in Fairbanks during the winter months, and the temperature hovers around zero.Kris Van Cleave, CBS News, 19 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Back in the woods, a band of militiamen wanders up to Jamie, beating the living daylights out of Lord John, and intervenes.Lincee Ray, EW.com, 14 Dec. 2024
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If your attention wanders away, bring it back.Janice Marturano, Forbes, 12 Dec. 2024
Noun
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In truth, both areas suffered in the late 1970s and 80s when unemployment ripped through its docks and shipyards.Simon Hughes, The Athletic, 20 Dec. 2024
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Phase 2 will double the number of loading docks, expediting off- and onloading for touring acts like rock shows or Broadway tours.Holly V. Hays, The Indianapolis Star, 18 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near floats
Cite this Entry
“Floats.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/floats. Accessed 5 Jan. 2025.
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