NYT Dictionary

AFLOAT

/əˈfloʊt/
AdverbAdjectivePrepositiona-FLOATa-float · 2 syllablesGrade 4

Accepted in official NYT Spelling Bee puzzle years: 2019, 2020, 2023, 2025

Meaning

In or into a state of floating.

Etymology

Origin: Ancient Greek

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *né Proto-Indo-European *n̥- Proto-Hellenic *ə- Ancient Greek ἀ- (a-)der. English a- English float English afloat From a- + float.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

awashat seafloodedaliveon one's feetsolventcirculatingin circulationcurrentbewildered

Antonyms

ashorebankruptinsolventaground

NYT Puzzle Appearances

Accepted in 2 recorded puzzles:

Join the Spelling Bee Community

Get solving strategies, rare word lists, and puzzle tips in your inbox every week.