sail

1 of 2

noun

ˈsāl

as last element in compounds often səl

Synonyms of sail next

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

plural usually sail : a ship equipped with sails

: an extent of fabric used in propelling a wind-driven vehicle (such as an iceboat)

: something that resembles a sail

especially : a streamlined conning tower on a submarine

: a passage by a sailing craft : cruise

sailed

ˈsāld

adjective

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

: to travel on water in a ship

: yacht

: to travel on water by the action of wind upon sails or by other means

: to move or proceed easily, gracefully, nonchalantly, or without resistance

sails through all sorts of contradictions—

Vicki Hearne

the bill sailed through the legislature

: to move through the air

the ball sailed over his head

: to begin a water voyage

sail with the tide

transitive verb

: to travel on (water) by means of motive power (such as sail)

sail the ocean

: to glide through

: to direct or manage the motion of

sail a ship

sailable

ˈsā-lə-bəl

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.