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

Whether that is starting a new company, investing in real estate, or finally taking that year long sailing trip, the choice is yours. —Lien De Pau, Forbes.com, 30 Jan. 2026

Renowned British designer Malcolm McKeon, famous for creating elegant, unfussy sailing yachts, penned the exterior, combining the sleekness and balance of a sloop with the volume and comfort of a superyacht. —Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 30 Jan. 2026

Last year Sportico wrote about a five-way alliance between a group of summer NGBs—those in squash, fencing, cycling, sailing and rowing—to pool their commercial and media rights. —Eben Novy-Williams, Sportico.com, 29 Jan. 2026

Some sailings visit Cook Islands, Fiji, and Tonga, and include extended stopovers. —Chrissie McClatchie, Travel + Leisure, 29 Jan. 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