buoyant

[boi-uhnt, boo-yuhnt]

adjective

1. tending to float in a fluid.

2. capable of keeping a body afloat, as a liquid.

3. not easily depressed; cheerful.

   Synonyms: sunny, jaunty, breezy, lighthearted, happy

4. cheering or invigorating.

buoyant

/ ˈbɔɪənt /

adjective

1. able to float in or rise to the surface of a liquid

2. (of a liquid or gas) able to keep a body afloat or cause it to rise

3. cheerful or resilient

Other Word Forms

• buoyantly adverb
• nonbuoyant adjective
• nonbuoyantly adverb
• unbuoyant adjective
• unbuoyantly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of buoyant¹

First recorded in 1570–80; buoy + -ant

Word History and Origins

Origin of buoyant¹

C16: probably from Spanish boyante , from boyar to float, from boya buoy, ultimately of Germanic origin

Example Sentences

Heat at the base of a continent can weaken and remove part of its dense root, making the continent lighter and more buoyant, like a hot air balloon rising after dropping its ballast.

Read more on Science Daily

Thinking about his father, Brooks pauses and his buoyant demeanor dims as he puts a finger to his eye as if it might begin to well up.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

All that being said, even before their buoyant off-year performance those widespread reports of Democrats’ demise were greatly ... well, we’ll leave that Mark Twain chestnut alone.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

As bubbles accumulate, the magma becomes more buoyant and rises faster, sometimes tearing apart and erupting explosively.

Read more on Science Daily

The finance and insurance sector’s growth is expected to remain robust, as falling interest rates and a buoyant equity market should support a pickup in loan growth and wealth management fees.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• bouncy 
• breezy 
• bright 
• cheerful 
• expansive 
• jaunty 
• jovial 
• joyful 
• lighthearted 
• lively 
• peppy 
• resilient 
• sunny