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
Relevance
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
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Colson Thayer, PEOPLE, 30 Oct. 2025
That same month, the crew of a 757 encountered a powerful smell that left both pilots with throat and nose irritation.
—Charlotte Observer, 29 Oct. 2025
The flow of migrants that kept Vargas and other raft pilots here busy for years, surging during the Biden administration, has vanished.
—Daniel Gonzalez, AZCentral.com, 29 Oct. 2025
Embedded in pilots, demos, and proofs of concept across nearly every major enterprise.
—Kellie Romack, Fortune, 29 Oct. 2025
Across the three hearings, several witnesses – including journalists and high-ranking military members – have testified about shadowy military programs to retrieve and study not only interstellar alien craft, but the extraterrestrial pilots themselves.
—Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 28 Oct. 2025
As for Guggenheim, he is best known for being one the architects of the Arrow-verse and has been on a roll of late, selling three pilots in the past six months.
—Justin Kroll, Deadline, 28 Oct. 2025
The National Air Traffic Controllers Association and pilots’ groups have emphasized safety first, warning that the risk envelope tightens as fatigue spreads.
—Imran Khalid, Boston Herald, 27 Oct. 2025
That could become important as Ukrainian pilots have tested and trained on older Gripen jets and simulators, the communications chief for Ukraine’s air force said Wednesday in a report from RBC-Ukraine.
—Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 23 Oct. 2025
Ollie Barder, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Watch On For each mission simulation, one astronaut pilots the aircraft while another charts the landing area, marking key landmarks, identifying potential hazards and helping to track the flight path.
—Samantha Mathewson, Space.com, 1 Sep. 2025
Noun
When the aircraft was about 100 miles southeast of Boston, the pilots called into local air traffic control to request a return to its origin.
—Colson Thayer, PEOPLE, 30 Oct. 2025
That same month, the crew of a 757 encountered a powerful smell that left both pilots with throat and nose irritation.
—Charlotte Observer, 29 Oct. 2025
The flow of migrants that kept Vargas and other raft pilots here busy for years, surging during the Biden administration, has vanished.
—Daniel Gonzalez, AZCentral.com, 29 Oct. 2025
Embedded in pilots, demos, and proofs of concept across nearly every major enterprise.
—Kellie Romack, Fortune, 29 Oct. 2025
Across the three hearings, several witnesses – including journalists and high-ranking military members – have testified about shadowy military programs to retrieve and study not only interstellar alien craft, but the extraterrestrial pilots themselves.
—Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 28 Oct. 2025
As for Guggenheim, he is best known for being one the architects of the Arrow-verse and has been on a roll of late, selling three pilots in the past six months.
—Justin Kroll, Deadline, 28 Oct. 2025
The National Air Traffic Controllers Association and pilots’ groups have emphasized safety first, warning that the risk envelope tightens as fatigue spreads.
—Imran Khalid, Boston Herald, 27 Oct. 2025
That could become important as Ukrainian pilots have tested and trained on older Gripen jets and simulators, the communications chief for Ukraine’s air force said Wednesday in a report from RBC-Ukraine.
—Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 23 Oct. 2025
Verb
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
Watch On For each mission simulation, one astronaut pilots the aircraft while another charts the landing area, marking key landmarks, identifying potential hazards and helping to track the flight path.
—Samantha Mathewson, Space.com, 1 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pilots
Noun
-
Elsewhere, the Lisbon festival will screen Fernando Vendrell’s Alem do Horizonte – A Travessia (Beyond the Horizon – The Crossing), which recalls early 20th-century Portuguese aeronauts Sacadura Cabral and Gago Coutinho as the first aviators to cross the Atlantic Ocean in a single leg.—
Etan Vlessing,
HollywoodReporter,
28 Oct. 2025
-
The space will document the stories of aviators, veterans and civilians whose lives intersected with the base from World War II through the Vietnam War.—
Victoria Le,
Oc Register,
28 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
In making the announcement, Lego brought out Ke Huy Quan, the Oscar winner who famously played Data, for a nostalgic mini-film, in which the actor guides viewers through the set and its Easter eggs.—
Borys Kit,
HollywoodReporter,
24 Oct. 2025
-
Through heartfelt storytelling and vibrant illustrations, the book guides children (and the adults reading with them) toward a deeper understanding of self-expression, balance, personal joy, and the importance of one’s feelings.—
Hannah Nwoko,
Parents,
21 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The vibe definitely steers more toward homey than hotel, which is fitting considering its remote, spectacular location.—
Chadner Navarro,
Vogue,
30 Oct. 2025
-
The plot unfolds at the urgent but erratic pace of a life-altering business deal, as Bonitzer unfussily steers us through a series of small rooms as people scramble to determine the proper thing to do with Schiele’s painting.—
David Ehrlich,
IndieWire,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Esther, so comfortable being in charge, even coaches Sasha on how to say hello to the woman.—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
24 Oct. 2025
-
Billups, the 2004 NBA Finals MVP who now coaches the Portland Trailblazers, was released on bond Thursday.—
Sean Neumann,
PEOPLE,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Our ReturnsDirect solution routes items directly from the customer to nonprofit, skipping the warehouse and eliminating the costs associated with that end of the supply chain.—
Andre Claudio,
Sourcing Journal,
27 Oct. 2025
-
The web page now routes users to the university’s Center for Connection Culture.—
Eleanor Dearman,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
23 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Air Mail’s fate shows that even the masters of the old form faced major headwinds when trying to navigate the new media landscape.—
Max Tani,
semafor.com,
3 Nov. 2025
-
Video shows one agent restraining the man, then dragging him around as another agent helps pin him to the ground.—
Zoe Sottile,
CNN Money,
3 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pilots.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pilots. Accessed 5 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share