afloat
adjective or adverb
1
a
: borne on or as if on the water
b
: being at sea
2
: free of difficulties : self-sufficient
the inheritance kept them afloat for years
3
a
: circulating about
nasty stories were afloat
b
: adrift
Examples of afloat in a Sentence
the boat can't stay afloat much longer
Recent Examples on the Web
The country’s economy, meanwhile, remains afloat through a sharp and unsustainable rise in borrowing.
—
Edward P. Joseph, Foreign Affairs, 10 May 2015
Steve Investigates keeps him pleasantly busy and adequately afloat.
—Lizz Schumer, Peoplemag, 21 June 2024
Others stayed near the boats that were still afloat.
—Julia Daye, Miami Herald, 22 Mar. 2024
With an afloat schedule packed with exercises, trainings and exchanges, the aged ship was still able to prevent nearly 4,000 pounds of cocaine and 5,400 pounds of marijuana from entering the United States.
—Craig Hooper, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2024
This new home, however, is afloat and moving from place to place.
—Georgina Cruz, Miami Herald, 30 Jan. 2024
The father’s frustration with the failure of his business ventures and all efforts to stay afloat forces him to shift from being a considerate parent into a militant one obsessed with controlling his children who know no other way but to obey him.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 12 Jan. 2024
DeSantis' campaign shaved more than a third of its staff in the second quarter of 2023 to remain afloat financially through the fall.
—Kathryn Watson, CBS News, 14 Aug. 2023
After being afloat off the coast of France from June 1 to 5, A Company began landing on Utah Beach on June 6, and by June 8 one platoon had brought four tanks ashore, the reports say.
—Glenn Kessler, Anchorage Daily News, 26 July 2023
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of
Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback
about these examples.
Edward P. Joseph, Foreign Affairs, 10 May 2015
Steve Investigates keeps him pleasantly busy and adequately afloat.
—Lizz Schumer, Peoplemag, 21 June 2024
Others stayed near the boats that were still afloat.
—Julia Daye, Miami Herald, 22 Mar. 2024
With an afloat schedule packed with exercises, trainings and exchanges, the aged ship was still able to prevent nearly 4,000 pounds of cocaine and 5,400 pounds of marijuana from entering the United States.
—Craig Hooper, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2024
This new home, however, is afloat and moving from place to place.
—Georgina Cruz, Miami Herald, 30 Jan. 2024
The father’s frustration with the failure of his business ventures and all efforts to stay afloat forces him to shift from being a considerate parent into a militant one obsessed with controlling his children who know no other way but to obey him.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 12 Jan. 2024
DeSantis' campaign shaved more than a third of its staff in the second quarter of 2023 to remain afloat financially through the fall.
—Kathryn Watson, CBS News, 14 Aug. 2023
After being afloat off the coast of France from June 1 to 5, A Company began landing on Utah Beach on June 6, and by June 8 one platoon had brought four tanks ashore, the reports say.
—Glenn Kessler, Anchorage Daily News, 26 July 2023
Dictionary Entries Near afloat
Cite this Entry
“Afloat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/afloat. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share