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
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
sails through all sorts of contradictions—
Vicki Hearne
Vicki Hearnethe 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
Synonyms
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 WebNatalia Senanayake, Peoplemag, 8 Apr. 2024
To watch the eclipse from the water, set sail with Classic Harbor Line for a cruise along the Hudson.
—Melissa Locker, TIME, 6 Apr. 2024
Accompanied by a team of nine assistants and Harvard’s impressive collection of astronomical instruments—including telescopes, compasses, clocks and quadrants—Williams set sail for Penobscot, choosing to disembark at Islesboro Island, a narrow, 14-mile-long island situated in the middle of the bay.
—Yaakov Zinberg, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 Apr. 2024
For example: When the Titanic set sail in April 1912, scientists say an extremely rare positioning of the sun, earth and moon caused an unusually high tide allowing ice floes to move south, and into the path of the ocean liner.
—Kristine Johnson, CBS News, 3 Apr. 2024
Nine passengers were abandoned on the African island of São Tomé and Príncipe after their Norwegian Cruise Line ship set sail without them.
—Owen Bellwood / Jalopnik, Quartz, 2 Apr. 2024
On a warm summer night more than 130 years ago, a young steamship unknowingly set sail for the last time — only to be found intact under hundreds of feet underwater, 40 miles from Holland.
—Miriam Marini, Detroit Free Press, 26 Mar. 2024
Some are fortunate enough to set sail with all three (Patagonia being an easy win of an example).
—Sairah Ashman, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024
On New Year’s Day in 1908, Shackleton and his crew aboard the ship Nimrod set sail on a quest to be the first to set foot on the South Pole.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 28 Mar. 2024
Nathan Diller, USA TODAY, 8 Apr. 2024
And while cruise companies from Seabourn to Hurtigruten have started sailing here in recent years, intrepid travelers have been skidding across Svalbard Airport’s single-lane runway via Tromso since 1975.
—Katie Lockhart, Robb Report, 7 Apr. 2024
Suddenly the once-content birds snapped their heads erect and, as if someone sounded an alert, the birds flushed almost in unison and sailed far overhead and across a broad valley.
—Scott Bestul, Field & Stream, 3 Apr. 2024
But wary of British influence, the United States refused to sign on, effectively placing ships sailing under the American flag beyond the reach of the crown.
—Rafael Vilela, Washington Post, 31 Mar. 2024
The intel vessel soon was spotted sailing back into Sevastopol, seemingly unimpaired.
—David Axe, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024
After watching his ball sail away, the Ohio native walks toward the camera and, using his club as an air guitar, starts dancing and singing along to the pre-chorus.
—Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 29 Mar. 2024
Death and Other Details will not sail again at Hulu.
—Lesley Goldberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 29 Mar. 2024
The year after taking delivery, Crowninshield and his crew sailed for Europe and, as a goodwill gesture, opened the vessel to the public.
—The Editors, Robb Report, 28 Mar. 2024
Noun
The Sun Princess officially set sail on its 10-day maiden voyage through the Mediterranean on Feb. 28.
—Natalia Senanayake, Peoplemag, 8 Apr. 2024
To watch the eclipse from the water, set sail with Classic Harbor Line for a cruise along the Hudson.
—Melissa Locker, TIME, 6 Apr. 2024
Accompanied by a team of nine assistants and Harvard’s impressive collection of astronomical instruments—including telescopes, compasses, clocks and quadrants—Williams set sail for Penobscot, choosing to disembark at Islesboro Island, a narrow, 14-mile-long island situated in the middle of the bay.
—Yaakov Zinberg, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 Apr. 2024
For example: When the Titanic set sail in April 1912, scientists say an extremely rare positioning of the sun, earth and moon caused an unusually high tide allowing ice floes to move south, and into the path of the ocean liner.
—Kristine Johnson, CBS News, 3 Apr. 2024
Nine passengers were abandoned on the African island of São Tomé and Príncipe after their Norwegian Cruise Line ship set sail without them.
—Owen Bellwood / Jalopnik, Quartz, 2 Apr. 2024
On a warm summer night more than 130 years ago, a young steamship unknowingly set sail for the last time — only to be found intact under hundreds of feet underwater, 40 miles from Holland.
—Miriam Marini, Detroit Free Press, 26 Mar. 2024
Some are fortunate enough to set sail with all three (Patagonia being an easy win of an example).
—Sairah Ashman, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024
On New Year’s Day in 1908, Shackleton and his crew aboard the ship Nimrod set sail on a quest to be the first to set foot on the South Pole.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 28 Mar. 2024
Verb
Travelers sailing from South Florida ports like Miami and Fort Lauderdale will likely visit Nassau in the Bahamas or one of many cruise line private islands, for example.
—Nathan Diller, USA TODAY, 8 Apr. 2024
And while cruise companies from Seabourn to Hurtigruten have started sailing here in recent years, intrepid travelers have been skidding across Svalbard Airport’s single-lane runway via Tromso since 1975.
—Katie Lockhart, Robb Report, 7 Apr. 2024
Suddenly the once-content birds snapped their heads erect and, as if someone sounded an alert, the birds flushed almost in unison and sailed far overhead and across a broad valley.
—Scott Bestul, Field & Stream, 3 Apr. 2024
But wary of British influence, the United States refused to sign on, effectively placing ships sailing under the American flag beyond the reach of the crown.
—Rafael Vilela, Washington Post, 31 Mar. 2024
The intel vessel soon was spotted sailing back into Sevastopol, seemingly unimpaired.
—David Axe, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024
After watching his ball sail away, the Ohio native walks toward the camera and, using his club as an air guitar, starts dancing and singing along to the pre-chorus.
—Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 29 Mar. 2024
Death and Other Details will not sail again at Hulu.
—Lesley Goldberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 29 Mar. 2024
The year after taking delivery, Crowninshield and his crew sailed for Europe and, as a goodwill gesture, opened the vessel to the public.
—The Editors, Robb Report, 28 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sail.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near sail
Cite this Entry
“Sail.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sail. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
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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