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

The program includes live bands and DJs on select sailings and routes, with performances typically held on larger vessels where space allows for small stage setups. —Loureen Ayyoub, CBS News, 10 Jan. 2026

The headline addition is a Rhône River cruise through southern France, marking a fresh European waterway experience that blends scenic sailing with Disney-exclusive shore excursions. —Josh Roberts, USA Today, 10 Jan. 2026

Availability is limited, which is why travelers should plan their sailings six to eight months in advance. —Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 10 Jan. 2026

Maersk, like its contemporaries that have made Red Sea sailings, is still focused on sticking to the Cape of Good Hope route despite the movement of the 6,445-TEU Sebarok. —Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 8 Jan. 2026

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

Rhymes for sailing

• ailing
• bailing
• baling
• failing
• flailing
• grayling
• hailing
• jailing
• mailing
• nailing
• paling
• railing