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

Travelers also have their pick of embarkation ports, from the convenience of departures from New York City to the thrill of sailings from historic San Juan, Puerto Rico, or the friendly Texas welcome of a Galveston embarkation. — Scott Laird, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Aug. 2026

Engaging lectures are also on the cards, with dedicated Egyptologists on every sailing. — Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 5 Aug. 2026

Pick one subject completely unrelated to your job and go deep on it for seven days—architecture, sailing, birdwatching, negotiation, astronomy, anything. — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026

Summers would be spent in sports camps, windsurfing, sailing, playing tennis. — Jessica Hopkins, New York Times, 4 Aug. 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