afloat
afloat Lexical Profile
afloat Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
Out of debt or financial difficulty; able to continue operating.
"Emergency government grants helped keep the struggling small businesses afloat during the recession."
Floating on the surface of water or another liquid; not sinking.
"The empty wooden barrels remained afloat after the cargo ship capsized."
In general circulation or currency among people (especially of rumors, ideas, or stories).
"Several competing rumors were afloat regarding the sudden resignation of the director."
Covered or flooded with water or another liquid.
"After the torrential downpour, the basement floor was completely afloat."
• adverb
On the surface of the water; on board a ship or boat; at sea.
"The naval cadets spent three months training ashore before serving six months afloat."
Word Nuance & Usage
Like many words formed with the prefix 'a-' (such as 'asleep' or 'adrift'), 'afloat' is a predicate adjective and cannot be placed directly before the noun it modifies (e.g., say 'the boat is afloat', never 'an afloat boat').
• Rhymes for afloat
Word Origin & Etymology
From Old English 'on flote', a prepositional phrase meaning 'on the sea' or 'floating', derived from the Germanic root of 'float'.