sail

1 of 2

noun

ˈsāl How to pronounce sail (audio)
 as last element in compounds often  səl
1
a(1)
: an extent of fabric (such as canvas) by means of which wind is used to propel a ship through water
(2)
: the sails of a ship
b
plural usually sail : a ship equipped with sails
2
: an extent of fabric used in propelling a wind-driven vehicle (such as an iceboat)
3
: something that resembles a sail
especially : a streamlined conning tower on a submarine
4
: a passage by a sailing craft : cruise
sailed adjective

Illustration of sail

Illustration of sail
  • 1 flying jib
  • 2 jib
  • 3 forestaysail
  • 4 foresail
  • 5 fore gaff-topsail
  • 6 main-topmast staysail
  • 7 mainsail
  • 8 main gaff-topsail

sail

2 of 2

verb

sailed; sailing; sails

intransitive verb

1
a
: to travel on water in a ship
b
: yacht
2
a
: to travel on water by the action of wind upon sails or by other means
b
: to move or proceed easily, gracefully, nonchalantly, or without resistance
sails through all sorts of contradictionsVicki Hearne
the bill sailed through the legislature
c
: to move through the air
the ball sailed over his head
3
: to begin a water voyage
sail with the tide

transitive verb

1
a
: to travel on (water) by means of motive power (such as sail)
sail the ocean
b
: to glide through
2
: to direct or manage the motion of
sail a ship
sailable adjective
Phrases
under sail
: in motion with sails set
sail into
: to attack vigorously or sharply
sailed into me for being late

Examples of sail in a Sentence

Noun Wind filled the sails and our journey had begun. raising and lowering the ship's sails a sail to San Francisco Verb We'll sail along the coast. He sailed around the world on a luxury liner. She sailed the Atlantic coastline. She's sailing a boat in tomorrow's race. The ship was sailed by a crew of 8. I've been sailing since I was a child. a ship that has sailed the seven seas We sat on the shore watching boats sail by. We sail at 9 a.m. tomorrow. They sail for San Francisco next week.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
On Tuesday, a ship packed with almost 200 metric tons of food set sail for the Strip from Cyprus. Ruth Marks Eglash, Fox News, 14 Mar. 2024 The first company to advertise this scuttled its cruise weeks before it was scheduled to set sail, leaving some passengers stranded. Chris Morris, Fortune, 13 Mar. 2024 The ship set sail at 8:45am local time Tuesday from Cyprus. Scott McLean, CNN, 12 Mar. 2024 More news to know now An aid ship loaded with some 200 tons of food has set sail from Cyprus to Gaza. USA TODAY, 12 Mar. 2024 On Sunday, the U.S. military said that an Army vessel, the General Frank S. Besson, had set sail a day earlier from a base near Norfolk, Va., and was carrying equipment to build a floating pier off Gaza’s coast to allow for aid deliveries. Andrew Jacobs, New York Times, 10 Mar. 2024 For a more historic-feeling trip, SF Bay Adventures offers sunset sails aboard the 80-foot Schooner Freda B that pass by the Golden Gate Bridge and the Marin Headlands. Kate Bradshaw, The Mercury News, 12 Feb. 2024 Itinerary: Set sail on the aforementioned Ovation of the Seas and embark on a journey through Alaska with Royal Caribbean’s 7-night Alaska Experience itinerary. Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 12 Feb. 2024 The wedding was an intimate ceremony aboard the luxury cruise ship, Seabourn Sojourn, officiated by the ship’s captain after setting sail in the Caribbean. Kaitlin Stevens, Peoplemag, 4 Mar. 2024
Verb
The ship, arranged by the World Central Kitchen (WCK) charity, is carrying nearly 200 tonnes of aid to be delivered via a jetty being prepared in Gaza, with a second ship expected to sail soon. Fox News, 15 Mar. 2024 In May, Costa will sail nine to 23-day cruises in northern Europe complete with stops in Greenland, Iceland, Norway, and Scotland. Alison Fox, Travel + Leisure, 14 Mar. 2024 When an angry Brooke (Essie Randles) shuts her bedroom door on a remorseful Amy (Alison Brie), Amy simply sails in through the adjoining bathroom instead; one gets the sense that these sisters have acted out this exact sequence of events thousands of times before. Angie Han, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Mar. 2024 The first ship in the context of the Cyprus Maritime Corridor Initiative for humanitarian aid to Gaza has sailed. Christopher Cann, USA TODAY, 12 Mar. 2024 Fox then looked to Monk, narrowly avoiding a five-second violation, but the pass sailed out of bounds before Monk could get to it. Jason Anderson, Sacramento Bee, 5 Mar. 2024 The ball sailed into the outfield seats as Loftin’s family and friends celebrated in the stands. Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 4 Mar. 2024 In-the-know travelers are learning the benefits of sailing Alaska in its shoulder season. Susan B. Barnes, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Feb. 2024 Rather than sail between the regions empty, cruise lines maximize usage of their ships by selling one-way trips known as repositioning cruises, often at big discounts on their usual fares. David Nikel, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sail.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English segl; akin to Old High German segal sail

First Known Use

Noun

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

Verb

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of sail was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near sail

Cite this Entry

“Sail.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sail. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

sail

1 of 2 noun
ˈsā(ə)l How to pronounce sail (audio)
 as last element in compounds often  səl
1
a
: a sheet of fabric (as canvas) used to catch wind to move a craft through water or over ice
b
: the sails of a ship
under full sail
c
plural usually sail : a ship with sails
2
: something like a sail
3
: a journey by ship

sail

2 of 2 verb
1
: to travel on water in a ship
sail the seas
2
: to travel by a sailing craft
3
: to move or glide along
sailed into the room
4
: to manage the sailing of

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