floating
Americanadjective
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being buoyed up on water or other liquid.
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having little or no attachment to a particular place; moving from one place to another.
a floating workforce.
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Pathology. away from its proper position, especially in a downward direction.
a floating kidney.
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not fixed or settled in a definite place or state.
a floating population.
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Finance.
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in circulation or use, or not permanently invested, as capital.
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composed of sums due within a short time.
a floating debt.
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Machinery.
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having a soft suspension greatly reducing vibrations between the suspended part and its support.
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working smoothly.
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adjective
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having little or no attachment
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(of an organ or part) displaced from the normal position or abnormally movable
a floating kidney
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not definitely attached to one place or policy; uncommitted or unfixed
the floating vote
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finance
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(of capital) not allocated or invested; available for current use
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(of debt) short-term and unfunded, usually raised by a government or company to meet current expenses
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(of a currency) free to fluctuate against other currencies in accordance with market forces
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machinery operating smoothly through being free from external constraints
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(of an electronic circuit or device) not connected to a source of voltage
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of floating
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.
All three of the home’s bedrooms are found on the lower level, which is accessed via a “sculptural floating staircase,” including the spacious primary suite, as well as two “oversized” guest accommodations.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 11, 2026
"The kids had been playing with some toys the night before and they were just floating about," she says.
From BBC • Jun. 11, 2026
Our own era is one of disembodied images, of videos maybe not even made by humans, floating around on a confused profusion of platforms.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 10, 2026
The resulting electrospray generated enough force to spin the CubeSat like a floating top.
From Science Daily • Jun. 10, 2026
“No, no, no, no, nope. I told you. I’m not getting into one of your floating death traps.”
From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam
Definitions 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.
