Word Adjective
afloat
adj.
B1 Intermediate US /əˈfɫoʊt/ UK /ɐflˈəʊt/ afloat
Definition
adj.floating on the surface of water. You use it to describe a boat, a person, or an object that is not sinking.
adj.resting on the surface of a liquid rather than submerged. Often used in the idiom 'keep afloat' to mean maintaining financial stability or survival.
Examples
“The small boat stayed afloat in the rough sea.”
“She threw a life ring to help the swimmer stay afloat until the rescue team arrived.”
“Despite the heavy storm and rising winds, the sturdy vessel remained afloat, drifting slowly toward the distant shore.”
Etymology
From a- + float.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
This entry
Level B1 · Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated