Synonyms of pilots

pilots 1 of 2

noun

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• aviators
• airmen
• fliers
• birdmen
• copilots
• test pilots
• aces
• flyboys
• skippers
• captains
• bush pilots
• barnstormers

pilots

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of pilot

1

as in guides

to give advice and instruction to (someone) regarding the course or process to be followed

piloted the figure skater through the national championships

Synonyms & Similar Words

• guides
• coaches
• shows
• mentors
• shepherds
• tutors
• accompanies
• steers
• teaches
• engineers
• leads
• walks through
• counsels
• escorts
• trains
• informs
• schools
• convoys
• supervises
• drills
• briefs
• squires
• godfathers
• chaperones
• superintends
• sees
• directs
• attends
• sways
• oversees
• instructs
• indoctrinates
• fosters
• enlightens
• inculcates
• nurtures
• cultivates

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• guides
• steers
• routes
• shows
• ushers
• leads
• accompanies
• marshals
• escorts
• conducts
• directs
• convoys
• precedes
• controls
• chaperones
• manages
• sees
• attends

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• follows
• trails
• dogs
• tails
• shadows
• hounds
• tailgates

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• steers
• navigates
• hijacks
• helms
• conns
• commandeers

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of pilots

Noun

This is why counting AI pilots tells us little about whether an organization is becoming more innovative. — Jeff Degraff, Fortune, 31 Aug. 2026

Helicopters arrived with water, and the jumpers directed the pilots via radio. — M. R. O’Connor, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026

Interestingly, in late July, The New Arab outlet in London reported that the Yemeni government has concluded a deal with Turkey for drones but that none had yet been delivered as of late July, although Ankara is already training Yemeni drone pilots. — Paul Iddon, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026

The system controls bleed air delivered to pilots through their oxygen masks. — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 28 Aug. 2026

Both shows will have fully completed pilots to be screened at the MIP market for potential buyers. — Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 28 Aug. 2026

Air traffic controllers will then direct pilots to avoid those areas. — Chas Newkey-Burden, TheWeek, 28 Aug. 2026

Flown today to familiarize new astronauts with working in a high-stress, dynamic environment and maintain pilots’ flight proficiencies, Johnson Space Center currently has a fleet of 14 active T-38 jets stationed out of nearby Ellington Airport. — Robert Pearlman, ArsTechnica, 27 Aug. 2026

Bagherzadeh earlier called on the Red Cross to aid the pilots out of concern for their physical condition, Tasnim said. — Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 22 Aug. 2026

Verb

Heath pilots a fighter jet, deploys bombs in foreign countries, and thwarts cyberattacks, all after remarkably cursory and casual conversations with a government official. — Becca Rothfeld, New Yorker, 29 Aug. 2026

Manuel Varela, who also pilots Goodie, says the drone has switchable nozzles for whatever the cleaning job calls for. — Delia Rose Sauer, Miami Herald, 15 July 2026

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