What is the opposite of floating?

The opposite of floating depends on which meaning of floating you are using, because floating has both literal and figurative senses. In the most literal physical sense of floating on water or in air, the opposite is sinking, drowning, submerging, grounding, plummeting, falling, or dropping. If floating means being suspended in air, the opposite is landing, grounded, or anchored. If floating means drifting without direction, the opposite is anchored, rooted, settled, fixed, established, or grounded. Emotionally, if floating means feeling euphoric and weightless, the opposite is feeling heavy, grounded, weighed down, depressed, burdened, or heavy-hearted. In terms of social behavior, if a floater is someone who moves between groups, the opposite is someone who is loyal, committed, rooted, or a permanent member. In finance, if a floating exchange rate is market-determined, its opposite is a fixed or pegged rate. In construction, a floating floor's opposite is a nailed-down or fixed floor. So while sinking is the direct physical antonym, anchored, grounded, fixed, and settled are the most common figurative opposites.