buoyant

adjective

buoy·​ant ˈbȯi-ənt How to pronounce buoyant (audio)
ˈbü-yənt
: having buoyancy
Warm air is more buoyant than cool air.
: such as
a
: capable of floating
Cork is naturally buoyant.
b
: cheerful, gay
in a buoyant mood
c
: capable of maintaining a satisfactorily high level
a buoyant economy
buoyantly adverb

Examples of buoyant in a Sentence

Warm air is more buoyant than cool air. The actors were buoyant as they prepared for the evening's performance.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Over eons, this deeply buried and buoyant salt layer squeezed upward in other places throughout the region, warping the surface into dramatic landforms like stone arches and spires. Mike Bezemek, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 July 2025 But the buoyant mood was shattered as screams of fear and pain rang out when a minivan plowed into the revelers. Chloe Mayer shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 May 2025 In April, Molteni’s chief executive officer Marco Piscitelli said sales were buoyant worldwide, especially in Asia, where the company continues to see growth potential. Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 23 May 2025 Despite significant macro risks ahead—including looming tariffs and weak consumer spending—markets remain buoyant, with the S&P 500 hitting a record high of 6,173.07 and futures rising further. Jim Edwards, Fortune, 30 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for buoyant

Word History

Etymology

see buoy entry 1

First Known Use

1578, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of buoyant was in 1578

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Buoyant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/buoyant. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

buoyant

adjective
buoy·​ant ˈbȯi-ənt How to pronounce buoyant (audio)
ˈbü-yənt
1
: having buoyancy
especially : capable of floating
2
: being in a happy mood : cheerful
buoyantly adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on buoyant

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!