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
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
see also under sail
sailed; sailing; sails
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
Roger Angellthe 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
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
see also sail into
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
Susan B. Glasser, New Yorker, 29 Jan. 2026
The visuals still take some getting used to — the lonely kicker set up 30 yards behind the nearest teammate, the coverage players and opposing blockers standing frozen as the kick sails over their heads.
—The Athletic Nfl Staff, New York Times, 28 Jan. 2026
William Earl, Variety, 30 Jan. 2026
The German served for the match in the fifth set at 5-4, only to be broken by Alcaraz thanks to a massive forehand winner that Zverev sailed long.
—Adam Zagoria, Forbes.com, 30 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sail
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Noun
There’s no pivot, no walk-back, not even a political trimming of the sails.
—Susan B. Glasser, New Yorker, 29 Jan. 2026
The visuals still take some getting used to — the lonely kicker set up 30 yards behind the nearest teammate, the coverage players and opposing blockers standing frozen as the kick sails over their heads.
—The Athletic Nfl Staff, New York Times, 28 Jan. 2026
Verb
The story is a post-apocalyptic tale in which a convict, played by Fischbach, sails an ocean of blood in a submarine in order to search for resources and discovers increasingly terrifying secrets.
—William Earl, Variety, 30 Jan. 2026
The German served for the match in the fifth set at 5-4, only to be broken by Alcaraz thanks to a massive forehand winner that Zverev sailed long.
—Adam Zagoria, Forbes.com, 30 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sail
Cite this Entry
“Sail.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sail. Accessed 3 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids 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 verb1
: 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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