pilots 1 of 2

plural of pilot
as in aviators
one who flies or is qualified to fly an aircraft or spacecraft the airline is seeking experienced pilots to fly the new airplane

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pilots

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of pilot
1
2
as in steers
to point out the way for (someone) especially from a position in front the lead rider piloted the rest of the team

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

3
as in navigates
to operate or control the course of managed to pilot the plane to safety despite the failure of the left engine

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of pilots
Noun
AerAware departs from traditional head-up displays and instead equips both pilots with a dual wearable system that delivers the same information to each cockpit seat. Amalia Roy, FOXNews.com, 24 June 2026 That said, even though directly involved in the adaptation of her own comic book series (to the point of drawing boards for early explorations and pilots), Tamaki later stressed the importance of being able to step back from ownership of the story being adapted. Kambole Campbell, Variety, 23 June 2026 But pilots can create a dangerous illusion. Stephane Gervais, Forbes.com, 23 June 2026 Both weapons are being discussed as beyond-visual-range missiles, built to strike targets before pilots can visually see them. Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 23 June 2026 That is according to airspace and maritime warning notices telling pilots and sailors to steer clear of the Starfall splashdown zone. Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 23 June 2026 Back in May, Westchester County Airport got a new surface awareness system to help protect planes and vehicles from ground collisions, like the one in March at LaGuardia that killed two Air Canada pilots. Tony Aiello, CBS News, 22 June 2026 Companies conducting air jumps face more regulations than private pilots flying a typical plane, but those requirements have more to do with the proper handling of skydiving equipment rather than flying the plane itself. Alexandra Skores, CNN Money, 15 June 2026 The other victims include passengers Lucas Vignale, Gaspar Prim (also known as Argentinian YouTuber Gaspi), Lucas Brito Chaves, and pilots Alexandre Souza and Charles Marsillac. Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 15 June 2026
Verb
There's also an optional co-op mode, which allows two players to split the controls of the Arwing starfighter and other vehicles; one person pilots them while the other shoots at enemies. Fran Ruiz, Space.com, 8 May 2026 Benji gives in to whatever Jake wants, desperate not to rock the boat, while Jake frequently pilots their relationship, taking control without giving much thought to Benji and his desires. David Opie, IndieWire, 4 May 2026 The drones are always recording and equipped with high-quality zoom and thermal cameras as a Cincinnati police officer remotely pilots the drone from the department's command center. David Ferrara, Cincinnati Enquirer, 11 Dec. 2025 When Claire’s adult daughter Channing pilots the idea of going on a ski trip next year and starting her own holiday traditions, Claire completely ices her out and won’t consider it. Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 9 Dec. 2025 Maito then pilots one of these robots, called Gaine, and teams up with other mecha to take down the real evil Nouvelle Tokyo City. Ollie Barder, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pilots
Noun
  • Another option is to simply opt for a pair of aviators that match your own.
    BestReviews, Mercury News, 18 June 2026
  • Hyatt Regency Lake Washington Budding aviators, plane geeks and those looking for any type of airport job can get a sneak peek without even booking an airline ticket.
    Ramsey Qubein, Forbes.com, 31 May 2026
Verb
  • Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin reopened in April with overhauled ride vehicles, upgraded interactive blasters, and a new character named Buddy who guides guests through the mission.
    Jacqueline Dole, Southern Living, 18 June 2026
  • Technological convergence, not a single technology, guides the future.
    Chuck Brooks, Forbes.com, 13 June 2026
Verb
  • The system accelerates, brakes and steers the vehicle in the lane.
    James Raia, Mercury News, 21 June 2026
  • Smoked paprika, six cloves of garlic, fresh mint, and lemon juice create a smoky, citrusy, bright flavor combo that steers ordinary chicken breast into decidedly unexpected territory.
    Maggie Meyer Glisan, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 June 2026
Verb
  • Mike is the head football coach at Division III Washington & Jefferson College; Jay, the middle brother, now coaches track and field and teaches social studies at Southwestern.
    Michael Silver, New York Times, 16 June 2026
  • The scene was equally incredible to his father, Jaxon McClure, a Marine Corps veteran who grew up in Chattanooga playing soccer with trash cans for goalposts, now coaches hundreds of local children and named his first child after one of the sport’s greatest stars.
    ABC News, ABC News, 15 June 2026
Verb
  • Other steps include creating a greeting, enabling call recording (if your plan supports it), and setting business hours (which determines whether the system sends a customer to voicemail right away or routes the call).
    John Brandon, PC Magazine, 17 June 2026
  • Resolution Capability The most important question to ask any vendor is whether their agent actually resolves issues or just routes them.
    AllBusiness, Forbes.com, 11 June 2026
Verb
  • Research shows over half of American travelers feel exhausted, with one in five admitting to booking a trip out of anger.
    Christopher Elliott, USA Today, 26 June 2026
  • One feed shows real-time footage of the FIFA Fan Fest at Bayfront Park in downtown Miami, while another displays a map of Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, where World Cup matches are being held.
    Larry Seward, CBS News, 26 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Pilots.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pilots. Accessed 27 Jun. 2026.

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