sail

1 of 2

noun

ˈsāl 

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

ˈsāld 

adjective

see also:

make sail set sail trim one's sails under 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

My father sailed through Harvard in three years …

—Roger Angell

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

ˈsā-lə-bəl 

adjective

see also:

sail into

Synonyms of sail

Noun

• voyage

Verb

• boat
• ferry
• cruise
• voyage

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 maritime industry is under pressure to clean up its act, giving rise to everything from high-tech rigid wing sails to pioneering zero-emission designs like the Yara Birkeland all-electric autonomous cargo vessel. — New Atlas, 16 Sep. 2026

Sitting five feet above the water, sailors suffer from severe blind spots caused by the towering presence of the carbon-fiber wing sail. — Andrew Rice, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026

Verb

Only a handful of families sailed onboard, with children under 10 numbering in the single digits. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Sep. 2026

The boats would sail from Chelsea Piers nearly 2 1/2 miles south to Ground Zero with a team of volunteers and return back for another round and the operation would continue 24/7. — ABC News, 8 Sep. 2026

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

Phrases Containing sail

• at/in full sail
• make sail
• press of sail
• sail close to the wind
• sail into
• sail through
• set sail
• solar sail
• square sail
• studding sail
• under sail

Rhymes for sail

• ail
• ale
• bail
• baile
• dail
• fail
• flail
• frail
• gael
• gail
• grail
• hail

Kids Definition

sail

1 of 2 noun

ˈsā(ə)l 

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