afloat

American  

[uh-floht] / əˈfloʊt /

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.

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afloat British  

/ 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

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Other Word Forms

• half-afloat adjective

Etymology

Origin of afloat

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

Example Sentences

In many cases, momentum trades are being kept afloat by the speculations rather than valuations, he added.

From MarketWatch

If these firms are forced to sell their bitcoin holdings to stay afloat, it could flood the market and amplify a downward spiral in prices.

From Barron's

I who couldn’t stay afloat in a little creek in broad daylight, dive into this lake in the middle of the night?

From Literature

To stay afloat, she has had to make sure her family keeps child care front and center.

From Los Angeles Times

It's easy to blame the protesters for preventing the CCA from staying afloat but it has failed to find a way round the significant challenges it's faced.

From BBC

Related Words

• adrift