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
Relevance
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of floats
Gemma Price, Travel + Leisure, 11 Jan. 2026
Over half the resort floats to minimize land disruption, there are zero single-use plastics, and even their toilet paper is sourced with eco credentials.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Jan. 2026
Also as part of the campaign, Chick-fil-A is adding its frosted sodas and floats to its menu permanently, starting Monday.
—Amelia Lucas, CNBC, 5 Jan. 2026
Like most Rose Parade floats, the platform was brought to life by hundreds of volunteers — many skipping sleep on New Year’s Eve — who embellished it with corn husks, lentils, sesame seeds, orange slices and red carnations.
—Gavin J. Quinton, Los Angeles Times, 3 Jan. 2026
On the choruses, SZA’s voice floats in from the back, sharing manifestations and advice.
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 30 Dec. 2025
An octopus floats through a sea of clear blue.
—Lauren Dana Ellman, Midwest Living, 29 Dec. 2025
The Julefest Parade is also a highlight, with parade floats that travel along the village streets.
—Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 14 Dec. 2025
Unable to regulate their body temperature, a cold-stunned sea turtle becomes lethargic, stops swimming, and floats to the surface, where the wind and waves can push them to dangerous waters.
—Kelli Bender, PEOPLE, 12 Dec. 2025
Ticked Off, The Orlando Sentinel, 7 Jan. 2026
Like in 2006, when stormy weather last hit the Rose Parade, some floats failed mid-route, McCormick said.
—Gavin J. Quinton, Los Angeles Times, 3 Jan. 2026
The annual Tournament of Roses Parade precedes kickoff, featuring elaborate floats decorated entirely with flowers, seeds, and natural materials.
—Jenzia Burgos, StyleCaster, 1 Jan. 2026
Several floats traveling through Pasadena this morning are receiving awards.
—Matt Nighswander, NBC news, 1 Jan. 2026
The parade features bands, floats, ceremonial vehicles and marching units from veterans groups, businesses and community service and civic groups with San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria as lead grand marshal.
—Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Nov. 2025
Organizers say this year's parade includes 29 floats, 26 performers, nearly a dozen marching bands and more.
—Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 3 Nov. 2025
Grab a spot along the route to catch marching bands, military units, and colorful floats honoring the city’s service members.
—Symiah Dorsey, Southern Living, 26 Oct. 2025
Here's who the celebrity guests are, tributes and of course, new floats.
—Leah Olajide, Freep.com, 23 Oct. 2025
Verb
Each space floats on local zapote wood pillars to avoid covering the ground, leaving most of the jungle intact.
—Noun
Fox also showed several more close-ups of the floats and bands.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for floats
Verb
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Northwestern’s endowment hovers around $14 billion.—
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Dellos, the shelter's manager, said the waitlist hovers around 200 people.—
Verb
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Where is that strange, clueless child who wanders from cause to cause, Greta Thunberg?—
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Matt, the dad, wanders off to the kitchen.—
Noun
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Miami, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach take turns transforming into floating marketplaces — docks converted to catwalks, hulls polished to reflective arrogance, sales reps who can quote fuel burn like yacht owners care about costs.—
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Private boats can also pull up for the day—anchor offshore or tie up at the public docks on the east and west sides, which are first-come, first-served.—
Verb
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Where National Geographic Endurance Sails Endurance often sails in icy waters, including those in the Arctic and around Antarctica, South Georgia, and the Falkland Islands.—
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Orgon’s only ally is his domineering parade float of a mother, Madame Pernelle (the Bianca del Rio), who sails onto the stage in high dudgeon at the top of the play.—
Verb
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Scoop City’s own Dianna Russini roams the sideline.—
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As flares light up the sky, the Deliriant, now a blond hooligan, roams the streets of a port city with Tai Zhaomei (Li Gengxi), a singer and gangster’s moll.—
Noun
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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.—
Verb
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In a video from the rescue mission shared on X, the aircrew is seen deploying a rescue swimmer, who swiftly swims to the disabled vessel and helps each boater to the helicopter's lift.—
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Meet Scuba Santa at Newport Aquarium Watch as Santa swims with sharks, rays, schools of fish and a sea turtle.—
Verb
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So while snow drifts that mound up alongside a properly insulated house with siding shouldn't be a problem, snow against a door leading to the deck may leak.—
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Cafés spill into afternoon sunlight, window-shopping counts as cardio, and live music drifts out of an old pub.—
Cite this Entry
“Floats.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/floats. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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