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
Billi shrugged, smiling, floating away. Bryan Washington, New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2025 Walter Matthau was actually tested for the role of Captain von Trapp, with other names like Yul Brynner and Bing Crosby also floated for the part before Christopher Plummer, who famously hated the movie, was cast. Debby Rice, Mercury News, 7 Sep. 2025
Noun
Along with its leak-proof, insulated design, the bag is crafted with a convenient on-the-go spigot for refreshing your look or your root beer float. Julia Teti, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2025 Once the underground portion of the tour is complete, head upstairs for the American Celebration on Parade, which features a collection of parade floats and props from historical national events. Tykesha Spivey Burton, Southern Living, 3 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for float
Recent Examples of Synonyms for float
Verb
  • As for most of the tournament, Sinner’s first-serve percentage hovered around 50, and Auger-Aliassime took the initiative with flashing forehands and the bravery to go after his shots in baseline rallies.
    Charlie Eccleshare, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2025
  • In addition to the newfound in-state rivalry, a sense of nostalgia hovered over pregame activities.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 6 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Some of the most notable included the iconic bell tower, the central fountain, the roaming pack of feral cats, and the massive gingko trees that loomed over a section of the academic quad and carpeted the sidewalks with golden leaves each fall.
    Katherine Polcari, Southern Living, 6 Sep. 2025
  • In its world, resurrected mammoths roam, AI governs underground facilities, and human-animal hybrids embody both triumph and ambiguity.
    Charlie Fink, Forbes.com, 6 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Trucks had to leave their cargo at loading docks, where small 106West carts would then pick it up and deliver it.
    Justin Wingerter, Denver Post, 10 Sep. 2025
  • The new dock can handle complex multi-network workflows, unlock high-bandwidth network storage connectivity and expand connectivity.
    Mark Sparrow, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • In 2025, Thorne’s Netflix miniseries Adolescence became a global juggernaut, sailing to the top of streaming charts and sparking international conversation.
    Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 12 Sep. 2025
  • Intriguing itineraries to places such as Asia and the South Pacific, where Ritz-Carlton has not previously sailed.
    Amanda Eyre Ward, Travel + Leisure, 12 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Her task now is simply to wander, wait and listen.
    Ari Daniel, NPR, 10 Sep. 2025
  • Despite its common name, this creature wasn’t simply a lion that wandered into the Americas.
    Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • As the water recedes, Leticia's cargo wharf has been extended several times to reach the river.
    John Otis, NPR, 7 Sep. 2025
  • The infrastructure humans build in the water ‒ houses, piers, wharves, jetties, and even oil rigs ‒ create new habitats for juvenile jellyfish, called polyps, to attach and grow, Bologna said.
    N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 24 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Families love Split for its walkable Old Town, beaches, and ferry access to islands like Hvar and Korčula, where kids can swim while grandparents explore medieval towns.
    Travel + Leisure Editors, Travel + Leisure, 9 Sep. 2025
  • The last attack in Sydney took place when a person swimming in shallow water was killed in February 2022, Reuters reported, marking Sydney's first fatal shark attack since 1963.
    Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 8 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • After an earnings beat and a blistering 32% pop on July 30, the stock drifted lower for a month — a normal profit-taking after a vertical move.
    Nishant Pant, CNBC, 9 Sep. 2025
  • This means that if Solar Cycle 25 were stronger or weaker than predicted, the peak month of solar maximum would drift from this August-September 2025 prediction.
    Ryan French, Space.com, 9 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Float.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/float. Accessed 14 Sep. 2025.

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