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
Unfortunately, The Shrouds, for all the many ideas floating around in it, feels more like a series of interesting notes for a film than an actual feature. Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 17 Apr. 2025 Full Story Trump floats wider IRS tax exemption crackdown President Trump on Thursday floated a wider crackdown on tax-exempt entities after his administration asked the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to revoke Harvard University’s tax-exempt status this week. Aris Folley, The Hill, 17 Apr. 2025
Noun
Meanwhile, short interest is up 12% over the past two weeks, though the stock has been steadily rising during this time, now representing 10.7% of the stock’s available float. Schaeffer's Investment Research, Forbes, 25 Mar. 2025 The diverse cultures of Kansas City come together in this parade in the form of lowriders, high-energy drill teams , drum corps and floats packed with families who trace their roots to Ireland. The Kansas City Star and, Kansas City Star, 17 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for float
Recent Examples of Synonyms for float
Verb
  • The early critical response has hovered north of the 90th percentile in favorability, though some reviewers argue the filmmakers have gone too narrow-focus on sheer authenticity, not to say shock value.
    Fred Schruers, IndieWire, 10 Apr. 2025
  • But momentous events from beyond the stage hovered, too: In February, well after all 5,000 tickets had been sold for our two-night stand, Donald Trump dismissed multiple members of the Kennedy Center board and installed himself as the institution’s chairman.
    Ryan Miller, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The other two dogs, who were able to roam the property, were found alive and taken into care.
    Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 18 Apr. 2025
  • The dogs were reported by passersby who alerted the KC Pet Project that dogs appeared to be dumped and roaming the area.
    Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 18 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • In the photo, Sterling wore a floral baby carrier with a doll inside while standing on a dock.
    Charna Flam, People.com, 19 Apr. 2025
  • The three-bedroom, four-bathroom house stretches more than 300 feet across Lake Washington’s waterfront has a dock that supports boats and seaplanes.
    Shannon Carroll, Quartz, 16 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • In the seventh, Fernando Tatis Jr. crushed a solo home run that sailed over the left field fence and onto the new two-story A’s club house, a 406-foot shot for a Padres 5-3 lead, and A’s ace Luis Severino dropped to 0-2 on the season despite an otherwise solid outing.
    Joe Davidson, Sacbee.com, 8 Apr. 2025
  • The boat sails off into the sunset, Timothy smiling out over the waves, and we’re deprived any meaningful fallout.
    Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 7 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • On Monday night, a glittering crowd stepped out to celebrate the store’s opening, before heading over to Palazzo Serbelloni to wander through its halls and take in the homewares collection.
    Liam Hess, Vogue, 10 Apr. 2025
  • Nestled along the sandy shores of Siloso Beach, the resort is adorned in tropical greenery, while peacocks wander freely across the gardens, hornbills perch in the frangipani trees and dinosaur-like monitor lizards sunbathe by breakfast tables.
    Nicole Trilivas, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • As part of the agreement, the terminal operator has also committed to the replacement and maintenance of all wharf and berth structures.
    Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 25 Mar. 2025
  • In celebration of the reopening, parking for the first two hours on the wharf will be free for the month.
    Stephanie Lam, The Mercury News, 4 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • The way the film swims through the contradictions, considerations, and cultural reverie of the rural South is genuinely enlivening.
    Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 18 Apr. 2025
  • First responders were en route to the Naperville pond when the man jumped in the 6-foot-deep pond to help the driver who couldn’t swim, fire officials said.
    Kate Linderman, Kansas City Star, 17 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Texas officials disputed Mexico’s claim that the bodies were tangled in the buoys and said only one body was found and that the person drowned upstream and drifted downstream toward the buoys.
    Anna Giaritelli, The Washington Examiner, 16 Apr. 2025
  • One of the reasons the forward P/E did not fall as much as trailing P/Es is that earnings estimates drifted lower, Clissold noted.
    Yun Li, CNBC, 16 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Float.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/float. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.

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