floating

American  

[floh-ting] / ˈfloʊ tɪŋ /

adjective

1. being buoyed up on water or other liquid.

2. having little or no attachment to a particular place; moving from one place to another.

   a floating workforce.

3. Pathology. away from its proper position, especially in a downward direction.

   a floating kidney.

4. not fixed or settled in a definite place or state.

   a floating population.

5. Finance.

   1. in circulation or use, or not permanently invested, as capital.

   2. composed of sums due within a short time.

      a floating debt.

6. Machinery.

   1. having a soft suspension greatly reducing vibrations between the suspended part and its support.

   2. working smoothly.

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floating British  

/ ˈfləʊtɪŋ /

adjective

1. having little or no attachment

2. (of an organ or part) displaced from the normal position or abnormally movable

   a floating kidney

3. not definitely attached to one place or policy; uncommitted or unfixed

   the floating vote

4. finance

   1. (of capital) not allocated or invested; available for current use

   2. (of debt) short-term and unfunded, usually raised by a government or company to meet current expenses

   3. (of a currency) free to fluctuate against other currencies in accordance with market forces

5. machinery operating smoothly through being free from external constraints

6. (of an electronic circuit or device) not connected to a source of voltage

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Other Word Forms

• floatingly adverb
• nonfloating adjective
• nonfloatingly adverb
• unfloating adjective

Etymology

Origin of floating

First recorded in 1555–65; float + -ing ²

Example Sentences

The $3 trillion is nothing more than deposits made by banks with the Fed—a full-faith-and-credit savings account with daily liquidity, earning a floating interest rate pegged to the policy target.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 20, 2026

Its booster successfully landed on a floating platform in the Atlantic Ocean about nine minutes and 30 seconds after takeoff.

From Barron's • Apr. 20, 2026

A week after the crew returned from space, Koch said she still wakes up feeling like she is floating.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 16, 2026

Scientists from the EPA and other federal agencies have also tested the gases given off at some reservoirs using floating equipment.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 15, 2026

When he was little, Pili used to tell him that clouds were like floating marshmallows and tasted sweet.

From "The Way to Rio Luna" by Zoraida Cordova

Related Words

• soaring