Synonyms of gliding

gliding 1 of 3

adjective

as in hovering

Related Words

• hovering
• sailing
• hanging
• drifting
• wafting
• poised
• floating
• free-floating
• buoyant
• floaty
• afloat
• awash
• unsinkable

Dissimilar Words

• sinking
• sunk
• high and dry
• aground

gliding

2 of 3

noun

as in soaring

Related Words

• soaring
• ballooning
• paragliding
• skydiving
• hang gliding
• aeronautics
• flying
• aviation
• flight

gliding

3 of 3

verb

present participle of glide

1

as in flowing

to move or proceed smoothly and readily

looking for a college course that he could just glide through

Synonyms & Similar Words

• flowing
• cruising
• drifting
• sliding
• sailing
• flying
• brushing
• slipping
• rolling
• sweeping
• coasting
• racing
• bowling
• speeding
• streaming
• rushing
• skimming
• whisking
• breezing

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• struggling
• floundering
• stumbling
• trudging
• shuffling
• plodding
• limping
• lumbering
• stamping
• stomping
• laboring
• tramping
• toiling
• shambling
• stumping

2

as in flying

to move through the air with or as if with outstretched wings

a kite gliding on the autumn breeze

Synonyms & Similar Words

• flying
• hovering
• floating
• sailing
• soaring
• drifting
• winging
• planing
• fluttering
• darting
• aviating
• wafting
• flitting
• coasting
• sweeping
• hanging
• cruising
• orbiting
• diving
• rocketing
• stooping
• helicoptering
• catapulting
• jetting

3

as in floating

to rest or move along the surface of a liquid or in the air

water striders gliding along the surface of the brook

Synonyms & Similar Words

• hovering
• floating
• sailing
• swimming
• drifting
• riding
• hanging
• bobbing
• wafting
• dangling
• poising
• suspending
• rafting
• buoying
• ballooning

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• settling
• sinking
• diving
• plunging
• lunging
• dipping
• submerging
• immersing
• submersing

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of gliding

Adjective

In addition, the action includes top-tier spider combat and awesome web-slinging and web-gliding traversal abilities. — George Yang, PC Magazine, 1 May 2026

Noun

Visitors especially enjoy paragliding and hang-gliding in the area, as well as canoeing and hiking all around the Valley. — Abigail Wilt, Southern Living, 28 July 2026

And in 2022, Ristroph studied the surpassingly complex aerodynamics of what makes a good paper airplane—specifically what is needed for smooth gliding. — Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 13 July 2026

This week, the moon will be visible gliding silently through the daytime sky from today (April 22), up until the next full moon phase on May 1. — Anthony Wood, Space.com, 22 Apr. 2026

Perfect for children’s bedrooms and play spaces, these favorably reviewed linen-blend curtains feature grommets for effortless gliding and breezy stripes in 27 colors that are equally kid- and grownup-friendly. — Shoko Wanger, Architectural Digest, 6 Oct. 2025

The team showed that this gliding persists down to –15 degree Celsius, setting a new benchmark for cellular motility in complex, nucleus-bearing organisms. — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 10 Sep. 2025

Five-foot-10 and 170 pounds in his prime, Rondell was known for his daring diving, gymnastic and hang-gliding skills. — Mike Barnes, HollywoodReporter, 16 Aug. 2025

Verb

Take the account of a giant, gentle whale shark gliding through the blue waters off the Southern California coast. — Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026

There was smoothness and gliding, and Bruno saw Guillermo attempting heel leads. — Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 30 Sep. 2026

The key difference is that an HGV is accelerated by a rocket before gliding toward its target, while an HCM uses an air-breathing engine to sustain hypersonic flight. — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 27 Sep. 2026

Trump supporters arrived early, and the sight of Air Force One gliding low overhead early Sunday revved up the pro-Trump crowd. — Olivia Olander, Chicago Tribune, 27 Sep. 2026

Infused with sunflower seed oil, castor seed oil, jojoba seed oil, squalane, and shea butter, Dear Dahlia’s Lip Paradise Sensual Lip Glow feels like, well, butter gliding onto your lips. — Sarah Han, Allure, 24 Sep. 2026

Then the foils lifted free, and the ship took to the sky, gliding low over the water like a pelican skimming the waves. — Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 23 Sep. 2026

Gigi Hadid opened the evening gliding through the arcade in a gold brocade gown celebrating the Italian Renaissance. — ABC News, 22 Sep. 2026

Their long wingspan and streamlined bodies make flying look effortless, gliding along with just the occasional pulse of their wings. — New Atlas, 21 Sep. 2026