afloat
/əˈfloʊt/adverb, adjective
afloat is spelled A-F-L-O-A-T: 6 letters and 2 syllables. It appears 2.1 times per million words in written English, the 18,811th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As an adverb, afloat means “In or into a state of floating” (English Wiktionary, September 2026).
How many letters and syllables are in afloat?
| Letters | 6: A-F-L-O-A-T |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 2 (from its American pronunciation) |
| In writing | 2.1 times per million words; the 18,811th most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
| Rhymes with |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation and the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media); rhymes and same-letter words are computed by PlainSpell from its own word list.
How common is afloat?
Afloat appears 2.1 times per million words in written English, the 18,811th most frequent word form in the list.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How do you pronounce afloat?
- US /əˈfloʊt/
- UK /əˈfləʊt/
Afloat has 2 syllables (counted from its American pronunciation in the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: En-us-afloat.ogg, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
What rhymes with afloat?
The 12 most written words on PlainSpell end in the same sounds as afloat from its last stressed vowel (/oʊt/):
Computed by PlainSpell from the pronunciations in the English Wiktionary (dump of September 2, 2026): a rhyme shares every sound from the last stressed vowel to the end; ordered by written frequency (wordfreq 3.1).
What does afloat mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
adverb
- 1
In or into a state of floating.
- 2
In, or while in, a vessel at sea or on another body of water; at sea.
- 3
Under water (bearing floating objects).
- 4
In or into circulation or currency.
- 5
obsoleteIn or into a condition of stimulation, arousal, confusion, bewilderment, etc.
adjective
- 1
Floating.
A rubber duck and other toys were afloat in the bath.
- 2
In, or found while in, a vessel at sea or on another body of water.
- 3
Floating in the air; flowing freely; not tied, braided, etc. (of hair or clothing)
- 4
Covered with water, bearing floating objects.
The decks are afloat.
- 5
Covered, overspread, filled (with or in something).
- 6
Having just enough resources to continue to operate; barely able to pay expenses; (of a private individual, family, etc.) keeping one's head above water.
The donation will keep our business afloat for quite a while.
- 7
Believed or talked about by many people; being passed from person to person.
The supervisor was never fired, though countless accusations of dishonesty were afloat.
- 8
obsoleteStimulated, aroused, activated.
preposition
- 1
obsoleteFloating upon.
early 1600s, John Webster and William Rowley, The Thracian Wonder, London: Thomas Johnson, 1661, Act I, Scene 1, But Huswife, as for you, / You with your Brat, wee’l send afloat the Main,
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Afloat in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
In the sense floating:
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Translations are Wiktionary's, by sense; a linked word has its own PlainSpell page.
Where does afloat come from?
From a- + float.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).