float
float — verb
1. to rest on top of a liquid such as water without sinking down into it.
to rest on top of a liquid such as water without sinking down into it.
A dry leaf floated on the surface of the pond all morning.
float + on + surface of [liquid]
The children watched their toy boat float across the swimming pool.
float across [body of water]
Wood floats on water, but stones sink straight to the bottom.
float on water (general fact)
Talia held her breath and floated on her back in the calm sea.
The empty kayak floated gently on the quiet lake near the shore.
- float on water
- float to the surface
- float in place
- stay afloat
emphasises not sinking rather than the action of resting on top
- drift
implies passive movement with the current, not just staying in place
- sink
to go down below the surface of a liquid
Grammar Patterns
float + on/in/along [liquid]
Common Mistakes
2. to be carried along by water or air with little effort, or to push an object so
to be carried along by water or air with little effort, or to push an object so that it moves this way across water or through air.
The small boat floated slowly down the river toward the old bridge.
float down [river/stream] (intransitive)
White clouds floated across the blue sky above the mountain village.
Darius floated his paper boat on the stream after the heavy rain stopped.
float + object + on [liquid] (causative)
The sweet smell of fresh bread floated through the open kitchen window.
Ari and his sister floated the wooden raft away from the dock with a long pole.
float + object + away (causative movement)
- float down the river
- float through the air
- float across the sky
- drift
emphasises movement carried by current or wind rather than floating as a state
Grammar Patterns
float + [adverb/preposition]
float + object + [adverb/preposition]
Usage Note
This sense can be either transitive (you float something) or intransitive (something floats). The transitive use means 'to cause something to float in a particular direction.'
3. to step or glide with a light, smooth, and elegant motion, as if carried by air.
to step or glide with a light, smooth, and elegant motion, as if carried by air.
The dancer in the long white dress floated across the stage with ease.
float across [surface] (graceful movement)
Anong walked into the room and seemed to float across the wooden floor.
In the wedding video, the bride floated down the stairs with a happy smile.
The figure skater floated over the ice as if gravity had no hold on her.
float over [surface] (skating/dancing)
Élise floated through the garden in her summer dress, greeting the guests.
- float across the room
- float down the stairs
- float through the door
Grammar Patterns
float + [adverb/preposition]
Usage Note
This sense describes a person's graceful way of moving, not actual floating. It is common in descriptions of dancers, skaters, or anyone moving with lightness and elegance.
4. to move between places, jobs, or activities without a fixed plan or clear purpos
to move between places, jobs, or activities without a fixed plan or clear purpose.
After university, Darius floated from job to job without any real plan.
float from [x] to [y] (aimless movement)
The cat floated around the house all day, never staying in one spot for long.
Ayesha has been floating between different hobbies, unable to choose one she loves.
Instead of focusing on one career, he just floats and takes whatever comes along.
float (no preposition — general aimlessness)
The group of teenagers floated around the park, not sure what to do next.
- float from job to job
- float around
- float between
- settle
to choose a fixed path and commit to it
Grammar Patterns
float + [adverb/preposition] (aimlessly)
float from [place/activity] to [place/activity]
Usage Note
This sense often carries a slightly negative tone, suggesting a lack of direction or commitment. Common in patterns like 'float from X to Y' or 'float around.'
Common Mistakes
5. to mention an idea or plan to someone in order to see what they think about it b
to mention an idea or plan to someone in order to see what they think about it before making a final decision.
Camila floated the idea of a team trip during the weekly staff meeting.
float the idea of [something]
The manager floated a new plan for reducing energy costs in the office.
float + [plan/proposal]
Hari floated the suggestion that the team should move to a bigger workspace.
At dinner, Theo floated the idea of spending the summer holiday in Japan.
Nobody objected when the principal floated the proposal for a new library wing.
passive reaction: nobody objected when [someone] floated [idea]
- float the idea
- float a proposal
- float a suggestion
- suggest
more direct and definite; 'float' is more tentative
- propose
more formal and serious than 'float'
- put forward
similar register to 'float'; slightly more formal
Grammar Patterns
float + noun (idea/plan/proposal/suggestion)
float the idea of [doing something]
Usage Note
Common in workplace and social contexts. The idea is 'tested' — you float it to see if people like it before committing. Usually followed by 'of + doing something' or a noun phrase.
Common Mistakes
6. to let the exchange rate of a national currency move up and down based on market
to let the exchange rate of a national currency move up and down based on market forces, instead of keeping it at a fixed level.
The central bank decided to float the peso against the US dollar last year.
float [currency] against [another currency]
After the financial crisis, the government chose to float its currency freely.
Countries that float their currency let the open market decide its daily value.
When a nation floats its currency, the rate can shift from one day to the next.
float its currency (general economic principle)
- float the currency
- float against
- floating exchange rate
- let fluctuate
describes the result rather than the policy decision
- free
as in 'free the currency'; rarer and more journalistic
- peg
to fix a currency's value to another currency or a commodity like gold
Grammar Patterns
float + currency name (dollar/peso/yen/etc.)
be floated against [another currency]
Usage Note
Used almost exclusively in economics and finance. The opposite is 'to peg' a currency — to fix its value to another currency. Subject is always a government or central bank.
Common Mistakes
7. to offer shares of a company to the public on a stock market through an initial
to offer shares of a company to the public on a stock market through an initial public offering, giving ordinary investors a chance to buy them.
The tech startup plans to float its shares on the stock market next spring.
float shares on [stock market]
The family business was floated on the London Stock Exchange in 2021.
be floated on [exchange] (passive)
Christopher's company floated twenty million new shares to raise investment capital.
Investors were excited when the green energy firm announced plans to float next quarter.
announce plans to float
- float the company
- float on the stock exchange
- flotation of shares
- go public
the more common American English equivalent; 'go public' is intransitive
- launch an IPO
formal and technical; precise financial term
- delist
to remove a company's shares from the stock market
Grammar Patterns
float + company/shares
be floated on [stock exchange]
Usage Note
This meaning is more common in British English ('float' the company). In American English, 'go public' or 'take public' is more frequently used. The noun form 'flotation' (or 'floatation') describes the process itself.
Common Mistakes
float about
phrasal verbTo be present in a place without being fixed or attached, often said of ideas or objects.
There's a rumor floating about that the company is closing.
A few old photographs were floating about in the attic.
float around
phrasal verbTo be in a place without being held down, or to be available but not used.
Some dust particles were floating around in the sunlight.
There's a spare key floating around somewhere in the kitchen.
To be something that a person enjoys or finds interesting.
Classical music doesn't really float my boat, but jazz does.
Does hiking in the mountains float your boat?
float/walk on air
idiomTo feel extremely happy and excited.
After winning the award, Sara felt like she was walking on air.
When Min got the job offer, he was floating on air for days.
float — noun
1. some cash that a worker in a shop, bar, or restaurant prepares at the start of t
some cash that a worker in a shop, bar, or restaurant prepares at the start of the day so they can give customers their change.
The bartender checked his float before the evening rush of customers began.
check the float
Ari always takes a fifty-dollar float from the safe before opening the shop in the morning.
take a float
The cashier counted her float at the start of her shift and again at closing.
The manager found the float was short by ten dollars at the end of the night.
- get a float
- check the float
- put money in the float
- change fund
more formal term used in accounting
- cash float
emphasises it is physical cash
Grammar Patterns
have/keep a float
check the float
Usage Note
The float belongs to the business, not the employee. It is counted at the start and end of each shift to make sure the cash in the till is correct.
Common Mistakes
2. a large decorated platform on wheels that carries displays, performers, or music
a large decorated platform on wheels that carries displays, performers, or music in a festival parade.
The high school band marched behind a colourful float decorated with paper flowers.
Children waved happily from the parade float as it moved slowly down the main street.
parade float
The float was covered in fresh flowers and carried a band playing cheerful music.
Each year the local businesses compete to build the best float for the New Year parade.
build a float
- parade float
- carnival float
- build a float
- decorate a float
- ride on a float
- parade float
the full term; 'float' is the shortened version
Grammar Patterns
parade float
carnival float
build/design a float
Usage Note
Floats are most commonly associated with parades for New Year, Carnival, Mardi Gras, Thanksgiving, and Pride events. Building a float can take weeks of preparation.
3. a small buoyant object tied to a fishing line that sits on the water's top and s
a small buoyant object tied to a fishing line that sits on the water's top and signals a fish bite by bobbing or sinking.
The fisherman watched his red float closely, waiting for a fish to bite the bait.
watch the float
A small white float bobbed on the water near the edge of the quiet lake.
Tariro put a plastic float on his line to keep the hook at the right depth.
When the float suddenly disappeared under the water, Tariro knew he had caught something.
float disappears (signals a bite)
- fishing float
- watch the float
- attach a float
- the float goes under
Grammar Patterns
fishing float
watch the float
attach a float
Usage Note
The float acts as a visual signal — when a fish bites the bait, the float moves or goes under the water. Also called a 'bobber' in American English.
4. a light object made of plastic or foam that a person learning to swim can hold o
a light object made of plastic or foam that a person learning to swim can hold onto to stay on the surface of the water.
The swimming instructor gave each child a blue float to hold while learning to kick.
hold a float
Anong held the float tightly and practised kicking her legs in the water.
Beginners often use a float to build confidence before swimming without support.
use a float
The pool has a basket of floats near the shallow end for anyone learning to swim.
- hold a float
- use a float
- swim with a float
- pool float
Grammar Patterns
hold a float
swim with a float
use a float
Usage Note
In British English, this is commonly called simply 'a float.' In American English, 'kickboard' is more common for the flat foam board, while 'float' often refers to the pool toy sense (noun 5).
5. a plastic object filled with air that people lie on or play with in a swimming p
a plastic object filled with air that people lie on or play with in a swimming pool or at the beach.
The children spent the afternoon playing on their inflatable pool floats in the backyard.
inflatable pool float
Talia lay on a large pink float with a cold drink balanced carefully in her hand.
A float shaped like a giant flamingo drifted slowly across the hotel swimming pool.
We need to pump more air into the float before taking it to the beach tomorrow.
pump air into a float
The shop sells colourful floats in the shape of unicorns, pizzas, and watermelons.
- pool float
- inflatable float
- lie on a float
- blow up a float
- pool lounger
specifically a float designed for lying on
- lilo
British English term; originally a brand name now used generically
Grammar Patterns
pool float
inflatable float
lie on a float
Usage Note
Pool floats come in many novelty shapes (animals, food, rings, loungers). They are also called 'pool loungers' or by the brand name 'lilo' in British English.
6. a cold drink made by putting a scoop of ice cream into a carbonated drink such a
a cold drink made by putting a scoop of ice cream into a carbonated drink such as cola or root beer.
The diner serves a root beer float with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream.
root beer float
Élise ordered a float made of lemon soda and strawberry ice cream.
On a hot summer afternoon, a cold float with a straw is hard to beat.
The café sells three kinds of float: cola, root beer, and orange soda.
- root beer float
- ice cream float
- order a float
- make a float
- ice cream soda
common alternative name, especially in the US
- spider
Australian English term for a float
Grammar Patterns
root beer float
ice cream float
order a float
Usage Note
The most famous variety is the root beer float. The phrase 'ice cream float' is used in British English and some other varieties. In Australia, it is sometimes called a 'spider.'
Word family
- floatingadjectiveB2
- flotationnounC1
- floaternounC1
Synonym discussion
Sense: verb/1
'Float', 'drift', 'stay afloat', and 'hover' all describe things that remain above or in a fluid, but they differ in what they emphasise. 'Float' (verb/1) focuses on the state of resting on top of a liquid without sinking — a boat floats, a cork floats, oil floats on water. 'Drift' adds the idea of movement carried by a current or wind: a drifting boat is moving with the water, not just staying in one place. 'Stay afloat' is a verb phrase that emphasises the effort or success of not sinking — a swimmer struggling to stay afloat, or a business barely staying afloat. 'Hover' applies mainly to air: a helicopter hovers when it stays in one spot in the air. A balloon might float on air; a hummingbird hovers. For example: 'The toy boat floated on the pond without moving.' vs. 'The boat drifted toward the waterfall.' vs. 'He grabbed the rope to stay afloat.'
Common collocations
Etymology
The word 'float' comes from Old English 'floatan', meaning to rest on the surface of a liquid. It is related to Old Norse 'flota' (to float) and Dutch 'vloten' (to flow). All these go back to the Proto-Germanic root '*flaut-' meaning to flow or swim. The noun sense of 'parade float' dates from the 1920s, from the idea of a floating platform. The financial uses — 'floating' a currency (allowing it to find its own level) and 'floating' a company on the stock market — developed in the 19th and 20th centuries, drawing on the metaphor of releasing something to move freely.