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

Example Sentences

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. See More
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
That pilot program is scheduled to set sail sometime later this year. WIRED, 14 Mar. 2023 The world’s first—and only—three-year world cruise will set sail in November 2023 from Istanbul on the MV Gemini, which has 400 cabins and space for up to 1,074 passengers. Laura Begley Bloom, Forbes, 9 Mar. 2023 Vessels range in size and capacity, from the 100-passenger Silver Origin expedition ship to the 728-passenger Silver Ray, setting sail in 2024. Fran Golden, Travel + Leisure, 8 Mar. 2023 Her unit, comprised of more than 800 Black women, set sail for Europe in February 1945. Sarah Swetlik | Sswetlik@al.com, al, 8 Mar. 2023 The boat that set sail from the Turkish port of Izmir carried people from Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran and other countries who were seeking a better quality of life in Europe. Fazal Tawab, ajc, 5 Mar. 2023 Read full article The boat that set sail from the Turkish port of Izmir carried people from Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran and other countries seeking a better quality of life in Europe. Fazal Tawab, BostonGlobe.com, 4 Mar. 2023 The boat, which had set sail from Turkey several days ago, was carrying migrants from Afghanistan, Iran, and other Middle Eastern countries. Justin Klawans, The Week, 26 Feb. 2023 Christian and his brother renovate a battered old fishing boat and set sail for the remote islands of Micronesia to start a new life. Pablo Sandoval, Variety, 17 Feb. 2023
Verb
Made with grapes from four vineyards, this Napa Valley wine has a nose of cherry pie and ground coffee, with plush tannins and flavors of cassis, blackberry, lavender and sage that sail to a lengthy finish. Mike Desimone And Jeff Jenssen, Robb Report, 18 Mar. 2023 However, two companies worth paying attention to are Hurtigruten and Havila whose smaller coastal cruise ships sail the classic Norwegian route between Bergen and Kirkenes almost every day of the year. David Nikel, Forbes, 16 Mar. 2023 For those who feel 3 years at sea is just the beginning, Afar points out another company, Storylines cruises, recently announced a ship that will sail indefinitely starting in 2024. Natalia Senanayake, Peoplemag, 13 Mar. 2023 From Galveston, adults can sail on a seven-day western Caribbean itinerary that includes three ports of call. Megan Dubois, Chron, 11 Mar. 2023 In Scotland, adventurous visitors can mountain bike and hike around an onshore wind farm, and boat tours in the UK and US offer the chance to sail right underneath a turbine’s blades. Olivia Rudgard, Fortune, 18 Feb. 2023 There are good ships and there are wood ships, the ships that sail the sea. Caroline Picard, Good Housekeeping, 13 Jan. 2023 Based on Watson's book chronicling her harrowing journey, True Spirit follows the teen's effort to sail 23,000 nautical miles around the world in 8 months — all entirely unassisted, save for some advice over the radio. Sydney Bucksbaum, EW.com, 9 Jan. 2023 It was believed that the sea ice in the Arctic Ocean merely ringed war and navigable waters, and if that ice could be penetrated, ships could sail. David James, Anchorage Daily News, 17 Dec. 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'sail.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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 25 Mar. 2023.

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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