float
noun
\ ˈflōt
\
\
Definition of float
(Entry 1 of 2)
1
: an act or instance of floating
2
: something that floats in or on the surface of a fluid: such as
a
: a device (such as a cork) buoying up the baited end of a fishing line
b
: a floating platform anchored near a shoreline for use by swimmers or boats
c
: a hollow ball that floats at the end of a lever in a cistern, tank, or boiler and regulates the liquid level
d
: a sac containing air or gas and buoying up the body of a plant or animal
e
: a watertight structure giving an airplane buoyancy on water
3
: a tool or apparatus for smoothing a surface (as of wet concrete)
4
: a government grant of a fixed amount of land not yet located by survey out of a larger specific tract
5
: a vehicle with a platform used to carry an exhibit in a parade
also
: the vehicle and exhibit together
6a
: an amount of money represented by checks outstanding and in process of collection
b
: the time between a transaction (such as the writing of a check or a purchase on credit) and the actual withdrawal of funds to cover it
c
: the volume of a company's shares available for active trading in the auction market
7
: a soft drink with ice cream floating in it
float
verb
floated;
floating;
floats
Definition of float (Entry 2 of 2)
1
: to rest on the surface of or be suspended in a fluid
2a
: to drift on or through or as if on or through a fluid
yellow leaves floated down
b
: wander
3
of a currency
: to find a level in the international exchange market in response to the law of supply and demand and without any restrictive effect of artificial support or control
1a
: to cause to float in or on the surface of a fluid
b
: to cause to float as if in a fluid
2
: flood
float a cranberry bog
3
: to smooth (something, such as plaster or cement) with a float
4a
: to put forth for acceptance
float a proposal
b
: to place (an issue of securities) on the market
c
: to obtain money for the establishment or development of (an enterprise) by issuing and selling securities
d
: negotiate
float a loan
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Synonyms & Antonyms for float
Synonyms: Noun
dock, jetty, landing, levee, pier, quai, quay, wharf
Synonyms: Verb
drift, glide, hang, hover, poise, ride, sail, swim, waft
Antonyms: Verb
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Examples of float in a Sentence
Noun
We are building a float for the homecoming parade. the crew put the cargo on the float before heading back down the riverVerb
She was floating on her back. ice floating in the river Will this material sink or float? dust floating through the air The incoming tide will eventually float the ship off the reef. They floated the logs down the river. She floated gracefully across the stage. His voice floated to the back of the room.
Recent Examples on the Web: Noun
Tijuana goalkeeper Gibran Lajud stood out too far, watching the ball float over him into the net in the 78th minute. — Ivan Orozco, San Diego Union-Tribune, "Defense lets Xolos down at Necaxa," 31 Aug. 2019 Yonce said back in 2016, when there was a Kickstarter campaign for the floats. — Ashley Boucher, PEOPLE.com, "This Motorized Pool Float Lets You Play Bumper Boats Anywhere, Anytime," 26 July 2019 The Independence Day unity float has inspired Goldman to help organize discussions around race in Bayfield. — Sam Tabachnik, The Denver Post, "A Confederate group marched in a Colorado town’s Fourth of July parade. Residents made a unity float to follow right behind it.," 10 July 2019 But as the floats later in the lineup started to make their way south, the temperature dropped and the sun disappeared. — Katherine Rosenberg-douglas, chicagotribune.com, "Rain-soaked Pride crowds, new mayor revel in historic parade: ‘Our battles are not over, but today feels particularly sweet’," 30 June 2019 Available at Urban Outfitters, the pool float comes equipped with a cupholder (kind of meta; very necessary), as well as an intuitive valve for super-easy inflation. — Glamour, "The Mother of All Pool Floats Is Shaped Like a Rosé Bottle—and It's Only $19," 23 June 2019 That's why boats can be made of materials (such as metal) that are denser than water: the air space inside the hull helps the boat float. — Ben Finio, Scientific American, "Surviving the Stormy Seas--with Science," 20 June 2019 And while they're frequently sold at beach stores, the floats are labeled warning against their use in open water. — Scottie Andrew And Brian Ries, CNN, "A boy on a unicorn float drifted half a mile out to sea in North Carolina," 11 June 2019 After decantation the plastic floats on the top while the sand and rocks sink to the bottom. — Nicole Winfield, sacbee, "Volcano created new Hawaii beach in 2018. It’s already covered in plastic, experts say," 4 June 2019Recent Examples on the Web: Verb
The swirl of ocean currents can concentrate nutrients and free-floating larvae. — Warren Cornwall, Science | AAAS, "Mountains hidden in the deep sea are biological hot spots. Will mining ruin them?," 12 Sep. 2019 Tonle Sap is also one of the most fertile inland fishing grounds in the world, so stop by one of the many floating restaurants for seafood. — Kareena Gianani, National Geographic, "Explore Cambodia’s ancient stone city," 10 Sep. 2019 The Frenchman already has two assists, the first an expert long pass to Bernard for the winning goal versus Watford, and the other a floating cross for Richarlison to head past Rui Patricio. — SI.com, "Everton Premier League Month in Review: August - Best Player, Worst Performance & Overall Rating," 8 Sep. 2019 Meanwile, on the two other floating stages, other entertainers were carrying on. — San Diego Union-Tribune, "From the Archives: San Diego’s Mission Bay aquatic park dedicated 70 years ago," 6 Sep. 2019 Others speculated about a huge fish, swimming circus elephants or just floating branches. — oregonlive, "The Loch Ness Monster is still a mystery. But scientists have some new evidence for a theory," 6 Sep. 2019 Chopard The self-winding Happy Sport Oval is splashed with 0.19 carats of floating diamonds in the 31.31 x 29mm case, on a bracelet of steel and 18-karat rose gold; $20,300, at Chopard, NYC and Costa Mesa or chopard.com. — Laurie Brookins, The Hollywood Reporter, "12 Timeless Travel Watches for Festival Season," 6 Sep. 2019 Authorities urged people to find floating devices as the storm triggered major flooding across Grand Bahama island. — CBS News, "Hurricane Dorian pummels Bahamas as monster Category 4 storm," 2 Sep. 2019 Town officials then considered a floating solar array, which Dustin said Johnson Controls first suggested. — Judith Kohler, The Denver Post, "The small Colorado town of Walden, in oil and gas country, has a new solar array. And it floats.," 1 Sep. 2019These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'float.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.