1
2
as in to flow
to move or proceed smoothly and readily
sailed through the latest assignment
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to hover
to rest or move along the surface of a liquid or in the air
a leaf sailed by, carried by the breeze
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of sail
ABC News,
24 June 2026
The Fujian carrier first sailed through the narrow body of water separating China and Taiwan in a trial run in September.
—
Los Angeles Times,
23 June 2026
Abhimanyu Ghoshal,
New Atlas,
28 June 2026
The uncertainty is leaving many shipping company owners waiting to see a sustained period of incident-free crossings before allowing their vessels to set sail again.
—
Eleni Giokos,
CNN Money,
27 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for sail
Verb
China on Tuesday also sailed its newest and most powerful aircraft carrier through the Taiwan Strait, the body of water separating China from Taiwan, just hours after Taiwan began a five-day military exercise to practice its response to a possible Chinese attack.
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ABC News,
24 June 2026
The Fujian carrier first sailed through the narrow body of water separating China and Taiwan in a trial run in September.
—
Los Angeles Times,
23 June 2026
Noun
These trimarans will be able to hit a speed of 14 knots, or around 16 mph (26 km/h), by using weather routing techniques to catch the wind in their sails and go from Bayonne, France, to New York in about 13 days.
—
Abhimanyu Ghoshal,
New Atlas,
28 June 2026
The uncertainty is leaving many shipping company owners waiting to see a sustained period of incident-free crossings before allowing their vessels to set sail again.
—
Eleni Giokos,
CNN Money,
27 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for sail
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sail
Verb
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As a result, the department is urging the public to review water and boating safety guidance.
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Lily had an active life of golfing, skiing, and boating with her family.
Verb
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Although maritime traffic has been able to flow through the channel, the future of the Strait of Hormuz remains in flux.
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Shares are up 43% in the year to date as more money has flowed into regional gaming.
Verb
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The Oranje are leading possession and for the most part have been hovering perilously close to Tunisia’s net.
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Euclid, which is hovering 930,0000 miles from Earth, captured the image with its visible light camera over 26 hours in March 2025.
Noun
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That night, Valencia, the vessel’s captain, set out with a crew of nine from Jaramijó, Ecuador, for what was expected to be a typical three-week voyage, casting lines for shark, marlin, and tuna.
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The fair's conferences were held at the Art Institute, and on the current site of La Rabida Hospital was a recreation of the La Rabida convent in Spain, where Columbus plotted his voyages.
Verb
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On most mornings, Nguyen Thien Bao threads his VinFast electric motorbike through the jammed traffic of Vietnam’s capital Hanoi — ferrying passengers and deliveries.
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The military did not provide evidence that the vessel was ferrying drugs.
Verb
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None of the three candidates, who are set to cruise to general election victories in November in their deep-blue districts, identify as communists.
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The Yankees’ blossoming prospect, pitching for the RailRiders and against Worcester at Triple-A, cruised for six scoreless innings in his penultimate minor league start.
Verb
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The usual carousel of famous people making the podcast rounds — Kamala Harris on Call Her Daddy, Tyrese on Joe Budden, the endless stream of tiny heads floating in front of screenshots of articles — is interrupted by something startlingly familiar.
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The nucleus disassembles, letting these crucial genetic instructions float free in the cell’s soupy interior.
Verb
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Between capitals, the ship glides through Austria’s wine country, with family winery visits and Melk Abbey structuring the scenic stretches.
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The particles glided past each other effortlessly.
Cite this Entry
“Sail.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sail. Accessed 2 Jul. 2026.
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