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
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 Going in the other direction, this 12-day Southampton to Miami itinerary from Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) sets sail in December 2024, starting at under $1,000 per person. David Nikel, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 October The Alaska cruise season winds down in October, with only a few ships setting sail. Susan B. Barnes, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Feb. 2024 The cruise will set sail on Jan. 4, 2026, on the line’s 1,432-guest Volendam ship which launched in 1999. Nathan Diller, USA TODAY, 26 Feb. 2024 The wreck may correspond to a vessel believed to have sank during the first century A.D. after setting sail for India. Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 26 Feb. 2024 The Arlington set sail from Port Arthur, Ontario, carrying a load of wheat, on April 30, 1940. Ellen Wexler, Smithsonian Magazine, 16 Feb. 2024 Book now at Uniworld Take your family on a Disney cruise with a 30-percent-off special Family-friendly Disney Cruise Line is offering between 20 and 30 percent savings on select cruises setting sail between now and March from Sydney, Australia; Honolulu, Hawaii; and Port Canaveral, Florida. Kyler Alvord, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Feb. 2024 The new 124-foot yacht is due to set sail in June, taking up to 12 guests on two seven-night itineraries through the Galápagos Islands, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a favorite destination of wildlife lovers. Stefanie Waldek, Travel + Leisure, 14 Feb. 2024
Verb
Dalmatian Coast, Croatia For the ultimate romantic vacation, charter a boat and sail along the Dalmatian Coast in Croatia. Claudia Fisher, Travel + Leisure, 2 Mar. 2024 Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Edge sets sail for the first time in Alaska this year. Susan B. Barnes, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Feb. 2024 Over a week later, authorities presumed them dead An American couple, Kathy Brandel and Ralph Hendry, who had been sailing on their yacht in the Caribbean were first reported missing on Feb. 18, 2024. Rebecca Aizin, Peoplemag, 28 Feb. 2024 The couple had sailed their yacht in last year's Caribbean Rally from Hampton, Virginia, to Antigua, and were spending the winter cruising in the eastern Caribbean, the Salty Dawg Sailing Association said. Cheryl McCloud, USA TODAY, 27 Feb. 2024 The full four and a half month route ventures south along the East Coast of South America, crossing the equator and sails down to Antarctica. Melissa Kravitz Hoeffner, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2024 One last barrier remained to freedom: Smalls and his crew of seven had to sail past Fort Sumter, the most heavily guarded of the Confederate forts. Ken Makin, The Christian Science Monitor, 26 Feb. 2024 On the afternoon of December 6, 1917, the USS Jacob Jones was sailing off the coast of Britain when German troops launched a torpedo from a submarine. Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 Feb. 2024 Using her right foot this time, the ball sailed just inside the top middle of the net. San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 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 19 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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