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
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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
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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of float
Ali Martin, The Christian Science Monitor, 12 Dec. 2024
Western allies have floated the possibility of peace talks, but fighting has intensified as Ukraine seeks to solidify gains and Russia deploys increasingly aggressive measures.
—Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 12 Dec. 2024
Lauren Penington, The Denver Post, 5 Dec. 2024
Any remaining plastic floats to the surface and is skimmed off.
—Vince Beiser, WIRED, 30 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for float 
Verb
But the actual threat of fire has always floated as a low-lingering cloud of possibility that never really landed.
—Noun
As the illuminated floats, giant character balloons and marching bands of Denver’s annual 9News Parade of Lights crawl through the city this weekend, travelers can expect delays and detours on public transportation.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for float
Verb
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Temperatures in the city hovered around the upper-30s on Friday, with a major drop in the forecast predicted for the weekend.Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 20 Dec. 2024
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The series features 10 episodes, and each episode hovers around 40 minutes long.Greta Cross, USA TODAY, 19 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Understanding black bears Black bears roam across much of North America.Amanda Kooser, Forbes, 14 Dec. 2024
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This shadowy faction has been roaming the galaxy and mass-converting citizens, but their intent is unknown — something for players to discover over the coming weeks and months.Stephan Pechdimaldji, Newsweek, 13 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Dockworkers and freight companies feud over automation A strike in October at docks across the East and Gulf coasts threatened to upend the economy and drive up prices, but workers and management ended the stoppage with a tentative agreement after three days.Max Zahn, ABC News, 13 Dec. 2024
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Subramanian rejected the idea Combs be kept under house arrest at a home with a boat dock in Miami but seemed open to potentially releasing him to confinement with around-the-clock security at a three-bedroom apartment on Manhattan’s Upper East Side.Antonio Pequeño IV, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Many of the incompletions were the result of his inaccuracy as Darnold sailed multiple passes toward the sideline and over the middle.The Athletic NFL Staff, The Athletic, 17 Dec. 2024
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Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, who sailed to an easy reelection for his sixth term last year, announced that would be his final campaign.Ryan Gillespie, Orlando Sentinel, 16 Dec. 2024
Verb
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After years of wandering through the desert, Texas finally got this right.Blake Toppmeyer, The Tennessean, 20 Dec. 2024
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Visitors are invited to park their cars and wander up the driveway to see cartoon characters and creatures heralding festive cheer.Patrick Connolly, Orlando Sentinel, 19 Dec. 2024
Noun
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The latest satellite image, which was captured on December 7, also showed a crane operating over the submarine's open hatches from the wharf.Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 16 Dec. 2024
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The only other sounds are the lapping waves against the yachts in front of these cottages spread out along the wharves.Laurie Werner, Forbes, 22 Oct. 2024
Verb
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Some individuals of the species might have been swimming there since colonial times — and researchers are just beginning to unravel how.Taylor Nicioli, CNN, 13 Dec. 2024
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Fish swimming in a melting river of agar and red bean jellies.Caroline Newton, Bon Appétit, 12 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Winds cold gust as high at 35 mph and cause blowing and drifting snow and low visibilities. Expect icy roads.Tanya Wildt, Detroit Free Press, 6 Dec. 2024
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Users are likely to drift into a state of physical and mental relaxation, becoming calm, tranquil, and aware.Lydia Kariuki, The Mercury News, 4 Dec. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Float.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/float. Accessed 25 Dec. 2024.
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