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
6
a
: 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
floated; floating; floats
1
: to rest on the surface of or be suspended in a fluid
2
a
: 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
1
a
: 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
4
a
: 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
Synonyms
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 river
Verb
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
Bill Stone, Forbes, 2 Nov. 2024
Ahead of the festivities airing on NBC on Turkey Day (Nov. 28), Entertainment Weekly has rounded up all of the famous faces, hosts, floats, and more that viewers can expect, below.
—Lauren Huff, EW.com, 2 Nov. 2024
Megan Ulu-Lani Boyanton, The Denver Post, 16 Nov. 2024
Rumors of Vonn’s return have been floating since October after she was spotted training in Austria.
—Rohan Nadkarni, NBC News, 14 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for float 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Noun
Insurance companies can invest the float, sometimes for years, before insurance losses are reimbursed.
—Bill Stone, Forbes, 2 Nov. 2024
Ahead of the festivities airing on NBC on Turkey Day (Nov. 28), Entertainment Weekly has rounded up all of the famous faces, hosts, floats, and more that viewers can expect, below.
—Lauren Huff, EW.com, 2 Nov. 2024
Verb
While the dances continued around the garden pavilion, snatches of both English and Spanish conversations floated through the growing crowd.
—Megan Ulu-Lani Boyanton, The Denver Post, 16 Nov. 2024
Rumors of Vonn’s return have been floating since October after she was spotted training in Austria.
—Rohan Nadkarni, NBC News, 14 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for float
Articles Related to float
Dictionary Entries Near float
Cite this Entry
“Float.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/float. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
float
1 of 2 noun1
: an act or instance of floating
2
: something that floats: as
a
: a device (as a cork) that holds 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 controls the flow or level of the liquid it floats on (as in a tank)
d
: a watertight structure that holds up an airplane on water
3
: a vehicle with a platform used to carry an exhibit in a parade
also
: the vehicle and exhibit together
4
: a drink consisting of ice cream floating in a beverage
float
2 of 2 verb1
: to rest on the surface of a fluid
2
: to drift on or through or as if on or through a fluid
dust floating through the air
3
: to cause to float
float logs down a river
floater
noun
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