buoyant
Americanadjective
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tending to float in a fluid.
-
capable of keeping a body afloat, as a liquid.
-
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
-
(of a liquid or gas) able to keep a body afloat or cause it to rise
-
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
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In the Mood? 100 Words to Describe Emotions
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More Positive Words to Describe a Person
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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.
Consumers’ actual spending has remained buoyant, supported by wealth gains from a roaring stock market and by a stable employment backdrop.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 9, 2026
A buoyant tourism sector during the summer meant package-holiday prices fell less this month than in September 2025.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 29, 2026
Their British approach to R&B prized tightness, clarity, and buoyant precision over the loose, improvisational grit often associated with American soul.
From Salon ● Sep. 28, 2026
Jobs growth has been relatively buoyant recently with a strong payrolls release for August.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 28, 2026
I brought the buoyant rope through it and hitched it.
From "Life of Pi" by Yann Martel
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
