afloat
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afloat
- /əˈfloʊt/ US
- /əˈfləʊt/ UK
Rhymes with -əʊt
Where it comes from
From a- + float.
adverb
- In or into a state of floating. You have so little Brains, that a Penn’orth of Butter melted under ’um, would set ’um afloat:
-
In, or while in, a vessel at sea or on another body of water; at sea.
[…] that trade […] may likewise employ many useful hands both ashore and afloat,
Opposite: ashore
-
Under water (bearing floating objects).
1695, Edmund Gibson (translator), Camden’s Britannia, London: A. Swalle, “Staffordshire,”
[…] it [the River Dove] overflows and lays the meadows afloat in April, like another Nile.
Similar: awash
- In or into circulation or currency. setting a lie aflote
-
In or into a condition of stimulation, arousal, confusion, bewilderment, etc.
No angry passions rise to disturb the silent progress of the work, […] no irritable humours are set afloat:
Similar: at sea
adjective
- Floating. A rubber duck and other toys were afloat in the bath.
-
In, or found while in, a vessel at sea or on another body of water.
[…] that trade […] may likewise employ many useful hands both ashore and afloat,
Opposite: ashore
- Floating in the air; flowing freely; not tied, braided, etc. (of hair or clothing) her black hair loose and a-float down her dazzling white neck
- Covered with water, bearing floating objects. The decks are afloat.
- Covered, overspread, filled (with or in something). The larch-wood was afloat with clear, lyric green,
-
Having just enough resources to continue to operate; barely able to pay expenses; (of a private individual, family, etc.) keeping one's head above water.
The donation will keep our business afloat for quite a while.
Similar: on one's feet, solvent · Opposite: bankrupt, insolvent
-
Believed or talked about by many people; being passed from person to person.
The supervisor was never fired, though countless accusations of dishonesty were afloat.
Similar: circulating, in circulation, current
- Stimulated, aroused, activated. You’ll find, when once my passion is afloat, / The soul of Caesar, in a petticoat!
-
In a state of confusion, bewilderment, or distraction.
1789, Edward Gibbon, letter to Lord Sheffield dated August 1789, in Miscellaneous Works, London: A. Strahan et al., 1796, p. 201,
I know not what to say; my mind is all afloat; yet you will not reproach me with caprice or inconstancy.
Similar: at sea, bewildered, confused, distracted
preposition
- Floating upon. early 1600s, John Webster and William Rowley, The Thracian Wonder, London: Thomas Johnson, 1661, Act I, Scene 1, But Huswife, as for you, / You with your Brat, wee’l send afloat the Main,
Thesaurus
Closest in meaning: floating, adrift, drifting, waterborne, inundated, flooded, awash, sailing, full, overflowing, directionless, aimless, purposeless, planless, rudderless, undirected
Translations
Talk about this word "afloat." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/afloat. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. afloat. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/afloat "afloat." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/afloat.Cite this
@misc{afloat_2026,
title = {afloat},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/afloat},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
