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View synonyms for afloat

afloat

[ uh-floht ]

adverb

  1. floating or borne on the water; in a floating condition:

    The ship was set afloat.

  2. on board a ship, boat, raft, etc.; at sea:

    cargo afloat and ashore.

  3. covered with water; flooded; awash:

    The main deck was afloat.

  4. moving without being guided or controlled; drifting.
  5. passing from place to place; in circulation:

    A rumor is afloat.

  6. free of major trouble, especially financially solvent:

    to keep a venture afloat.



afloat

/ əˈfləʊt /

adjective

  1. floating
  2. aboard ship; at sea
  3. covered with water; flooded
  4. aimlessly drifting

    afloat in a sea of indecision

  5. in circulation; afoot

    nasty rumours were afloat

  6. free of debt; solvent
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


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Other Words From

  • half-a·float adjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of afloat1

before 1000; Middle English, Old English on flote. See a- 1, float
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Example Sentences

She won her last race by a large margin, she has a fairly moderate voting record, Maine only barely voted for Clinton in 2016, and experts continue to rate the race as a toss-up, all factors that help keep her afloat in our Classic and Deluxe models.

The largest component of that aid, the $660 billion Paycheck Protection Program, kept thousands of small businesses afloat.

Under the CARES Act stimulus that was approved, USPS got a $10 billion loan, which is helping keep things afloat for now.

For instance, people kept spending money, despite high levels of unemployment, because the federal government was keeping jobless workers afloat with an additional $600 per week in benefits.

Rather, economists have found that the US government’s stimulus payments and enhanced unemployment insurance have kept many low-income families afloat.

From Quartz

Their money, often collected for many years, helps keep the system afloat and benefits flowing to aging baby boomers.

Many of them started taking some of the odd jobs in town just to stay afloat.

But the new one has just got all the basics, the solid foundation, it stays afloat.

Do you remember it being tough to keep relationships afloat back when you were a struggling actor?

Otto tried to keep the bank afloat by moving it to Amsterdam.

Without embarking on another endless yarn let me note the fact that there are two schools amongst our brethren afloat.

Mark it well, for from this spot have embarked countless fine fellows to serve King and country afloat.

There are a good many anecdotes afloat about him and his odd way of doing things, before he grew up to manhood.

He said that he could build a submarine that could swim under the water and destroy any war vessel afloat.

You and I are in the same boat, Billy, whether ashore or afloat; we sink or swim together.

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flea in one's ear, aaflutter