buoyant
Americanadjective
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tending to float in a fluid.
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capable of keeping a body afloat, as a liquid.
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not easily depressed; cheerful.
- Synonyms:
- sunny, jaunty, breezy, lighthearted, happy
-
cheering or invigorating.
adjective
-
able to float in or rise to the surface of a liquid
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(of a liquid or gas) able to keep a body afloat or cause it to rise
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cheerful or resilient
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of buoyant
Explanation
Something that is buoyant floats in water. Since floating is happier than sinking, buoyant also refers to things are fun and upbeat. Someone with a buoyant personality is fun to be around, laughs a lot, smiles, and cheers other people up. Buoyant people are lively and lighthearted — the opposite of sad, depressed, and bummed out. Buoyant people are also called bubbly and cheerful, and it should help to remember that buoyant objects float — just like a buoyant person can seem like they're floating too (as in the expression "floating on air").
Vocabulary lists containing buoyant
Words to Capture Your Joy
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
In the Mood? 100 Words to Describe Emotions
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
More Positive Words to Describe a Person
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Buoyant markets and $205 billion in new client money helped lift the manager above the $13 trillion mark for the first time.
From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 14, 2025
Buoyant electric car sales are a must if we're to hit our climate targets.
From BBC • May 16, 2024
Buoyant Chelsea extended their Premier League lead and calmed nerves at Stamford Bridge with a 4-2 win over Southampton on Tuesday that moved them seven points clear of their nearest pursuers Tottenham Hotspur.
From Reuters • Apr. 25, 2017
Buoyant and energized, he invited one fan onto the stage for a hug and even briefly turned over the microphone.
From New York Times • Feb. 18, 2017
Buoyant with hope, he turned into the Street of the Goldsmiths.
From "The Golden Goblet" by Eloise Jarvis McGraw
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
