sailing

noun

sail·​ing ˈsā-liŋ 

1

a

: the technical skill of managing a ship : navigation

b

: the method of determining the course to be followed to reach a given point

2

a

: the sport of handling or riding in a sailboat

b

: a departure from a port

Examples of sailing in a Sentence

They're going sailing next week.

Recent Examples on the Web

After that, the resort curates a personalized trip itinerary for the family, including scheduled activities like snorkeling or sailing. —Kathleen Wong, USA TODAY, 19 May 2024

In 2020, the Spanish government banned small sailing boats from a part of northwestern Spain. —Tomas Weber, Rolling Stone, 18 May 2024

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing sailing

• clear sailing
• plain sailing
• sailing ship
• smooth sailing