Definition of afloatnext
as in floating
riding upon the surface of a body of liquid the boat can't stay afloat much longer

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

afloat

2 of 2

adverb

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 afloat
Adjective
Though now, the campus is shifting more digital to stay financially afloat and keep up with a changing educational landscape. Lacey Beasley, CBS News, 28 Aug. 2026 At one point, Georgia O’Keeffe had to convince her own dealer, Edith Herbert, to buy some of Kusama’s work to keep her afloat. Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 27 Aug. 2026 After the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia made clear its intention to end its funding at the end of this season, the league has been looking for investment and solutions to remain afloat. Brody Miller, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026 In-app purchases to keep afloat Both apps are free to download but feature in-app purchases. Greta Cross, USA Today, 20 Aug. 2026 Long before becoming a Hollywood mainstay with a market cap of over $315 billion, Netflix was struggling to stay afloat. Preston Fore, Fortune, 18 Aug. 2026 When their main breadwinner is detained, the immigrant households struggle to stay afloat. Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 18 Aug. 2026 Yet many of them are stuck on an exhausting financial hamster wheel, continually grinding to stay afloat. Justin Donald, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026 Smith worked up to 100 hours per week during the business’s early years, investing his own savings to keep it afloat. Paloma Chavez, PEOPLE, 6 Aug. 2026
Adverb
However, Mirassou said the struggle of keeping her ranch afloat is well worth the effort. Dawn White, CBS News, 27 Aug. 2026 Maintaining that strength requires a robust industrial base that delivers new ships on schedule and keeps America’s existing vessels afloat. Matt Reisener, Washington Post, 26 Aug. 2026 Mendelsohn said implementing in-app purchases was necessary because the cost of keeping Roost afloat is costly. Greta Cross, USA Today, 20 Aug. 2026 Whether that’s enough to keep the startup afloat, and what Gates’ path forward resembles, remains to be seen . Lily Mae Lazarus, Fortune, 17 Aug. 2026 The news not only comes after weeks of speculation about whether the season finale would take place, but also after the breakaway circuit announced a new, unknown investor to keep LIV afloat into 2027 and beyond. Mark Harris Outkick, FOXNews.com, 17 Aug. 2026 The GoFundMe page was made with an $11,000 goal to help the Hicks family with medical bills, therapy, follow-up care, daily living expenses and with keeping their restaurant afloat. Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Aug. 2026 But after reaching All-Star status for the first time in his career, after keeping the Heat afloat through the first half of last season while Herro was sidelined, Norman Powell need offer no apology for feeling slighted. Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 15 Aug. 2026 Even when the material falls short of their talents, Erivo and Grande keep For Good afloat. Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for afloat
Adjective
  • Companies with a smaller market value generally tend to have more floating rate debt than larger businesses.
    Lisa Kailai Han, CNBC, 11 Sep. 2025
  • Social media posts and years of reviewing cookie-cutter luxury hotels had conditioned me to equate floating breakfasts, monogrammed accessories, butler service, and aromatherapy menus as markers of a dreamy luxury vacation.
    Katherine Alex Beaven, Travel + Leisure, 22 Oct. 2024
Adverb
  • Miniso has emerged as one of China’s largest retail chains at home and abroad since it was founded in 2013.
    Russell Flannery, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Sarah Ferguson is preparing to return to the United Kingdom after months abroad.
    ABC News, ABC News, 29 Aug. 2026
Adverb
  • This time the recipient is area rancher Benjamin Bonney (Dermot Mulroney), who along with his thuggish sons is suspected of murdering anyone hereabouts who won’t surrender their own land to him.
    Dennis Harvey, Variety, 10 Jan. 2025
  • Blame the damp and moderate climate hereabouts or the particular ardor of the northern red-legged frog, but our target species is ready to hop anytime between early November and the middle of March.
    Murr Brewster, The Christian Science Monitor, 12 Mar. 2024
Adverb
  • In a world where music is everywhere and constantly available, there is something increasingly powerful about creating a space where people stop and really listen.
    Jesse Kirshbaum, SPIN, 28 Aug. 2026
  • After, there was a clear reduction in crashes, particularly fatal or serious injury accidents, which roundabouts everywhere have seen, Bryson said.
    Susan Bromley, Freep.com, 28 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Afloat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/afloat. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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