adj Uncommon

afloat

uh-FLOHT

Afloat (adj) means floating on the surface of water rather than sinking. Example: “The life raft kept them afloat until the rescue boat arrived.”

adj

Floating on the surface of water rather than sinking.

"The life raft kept them afloat until the rescue boat arrived."

Financially stable enough to keep operating, without necessarily thriving.

"The small bakery barely stayed afloat during the recession."

"They took on extra shifts just to keep the business afloat."

How to use afloat

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishNot sinking — either literally in water, or figuratively financially surviving.

Common pairings

keep afloat stay afloat financially afloat

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The life raft kept them _____ until the rescue boat arrived.

Etymology

From Old English a- ("on") plus "float."

Origin: Old English

Rhymes for afloat

oat boat coat goat moat float bloat gloat groat throat tugboat rowboat

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Frequently asked questions

What does “afloat” mean?

The word “afloat” means floating on the surface of water rather than sinking. In plain terms, not sinking — either literally in water, or figuratively financially surviving.

How do you pronounce “afloat”?

“Afloat” is pronounced uh-FLOHT (/əˈfloʊt/ in IPA).

How do you use “afloat” in a sentence?

Here is “afloat” used in a sentence: “The life raft kept them afloat until the rescue boat arrived.”

What part of speech is “afloat”?

“Afloat” is an adjective.

Where does the word “afloat” come from?

The word “afloat” comes from Old English. From Old English a- ("on") plus "float.".

Is “afloat” a common word?

“Afloat” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “afloat” have?

“Afloat” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: floating on the surface of water rather than sinking.

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Vocabulary lists that include afloat:

Words with old & middle English origins