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
1
Floating on the surface of water rather than sinking.
"The life raft kept them afloat until the rescue boat arrived."
2
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 notesIn plain EnglishNot sinking — either literally in water, or figuratively financially surviving.
Common pairings
keep afloat
stay afloat
financially afloat
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The life raft kept them _____ until the rescue boat arrived.
Etymology
From Old English a- ("on") plus "float."
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for afloat
See all rhymes for afloat →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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