sail 1 of 2

verb

Definition of sailnext
1
as in to boat
to travel on water in a vessel I can't sail when there's any breeze at all because I get seasick easily

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

sail

2 of 2

noun

ˈsāl How to pronounce sail (audio)
as in voyage
a journey over water in a vessel we went for a brief sail on the bay to relax

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 sail
Verb
The charter Girardeau sailed with was about four miles out and almost at the its trip when word of the hammerhead was radioed out — the crew decided to take a chance and sped up the coast 15 minutes to see the shark still sauntering in the sea. — Laylan Connelly, Oc Register, 24 Aug. 2026 Surf, sail and pick up padel For every traveler who wants to kick back and relax on their vacation, there’s another who refuses to sit still. — Catherine Garcia, TheWeek, 24 Aug. 2026
Noun
The yacht carries a wardrobe of jibs, staysails, gaff main and gaff foresail, and topmast and fisherman staysails, setting eight sails in her full racing configuration. — Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 13 Aug. 2026 Have your own postcard worthy memory with Smile N’ Wave, a charter company that offers sails that specialize in everything from snorkeling to swimming to dolphin chasing from their shaded 31-foot catamaran. — Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 12 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sail
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sail
  1. boat
  2. flow
  3. hover
  4. voyage
  5. ferry
  6. cruise
  7. float
  8. glide
Verb
  • In Antonioni’s film, after a woman disappears during a boating vacation, her partner and her best friend travel around looking for her, while the bond between them tightens and their grip on the threads of certainty loosens.
    — Richard Brody, New Yorker, 19 Aug. 2026
  • This event allows the public to enjoy kayaking waters normally closed to boating, while simultaneously aiding in preserving the lagoon habitat by removing trash.
    — Ut Community Press, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of boat
Verb
  • Her looks are characterized by a natural, relaxed elegance, featuring flowing dresses, lightweight fabrics, and details reminiscent of 1970s fashion.
    — Laura Tortora, Glamour, 22 Aug. 2026
  • Up in the directors’ box, sporting director Andrea Berta wore an inscrutable expression as the game flowed.
    — Amy Lawrence, New York Times, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of flow
Verb
  • Inspectors observed around 6 flies hovering at and below a prep sink.
    — Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 21 Aug. 2026
  • But things went sideways when the drone hovered above Austen’s pool and dropped the package into the water.
    — Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of hover
Noun
  • The move marked the first voyage of the Bangkok Maersk through the canal since it was built in 2025.
    — Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 25 Aug. 2026
  • All eyes were on Brooks’ maiden voyage on his first arena tour in a decade.
    — Heather Bushman, USA Today, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of voyage
Verb
  • Madilynn Becker, Miss Kansas While Madilynn Becker has long since given up most of her rituals and superstitions, there was one that ferried her through her young pageant career.
    — Tabitha Parent, PEOPLE, 21 Aug. 2026
  • According to Axios, the US military has helped ferry crude through the Strait of Hormuz, driving overall levels of exports through the key waterway to about half of prewar levels and undermining Iranian efforts to control the crossing.
    — Prashant Rao, semafor.com, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of ferry
Verb
  • By then Arsenal were cruising, thanks to an hour of crisp passing and progressive possession punctuated by goals from Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka and Odegaard.
    — Amy Lawrence, New York Times, 22 Aug. 2026
  • The twin-engine, turbo-prop aircraft are pressurized, seat up to nine passengers and have the ability to cruise at 330 mph at 28,000 feet, Security Aviation says.
    — Aaron Cooper, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of cruise
Verb
  • Restrictions on energy, electricity or critical minerals, something Ford also floated, could instead raise costs for American companies and consumers by making key inputs more expensive or harder to obtain.
    — Elisabeth Buchwald, CNN Money, 25 Aug. 2026
  • The soda bottles sat atop floating coasters that carried the drinks across the food truck counter and dropped them into a slot so customers could retrieve them below.
    — Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of float
Verb
  • Savor quiet mornings on the dock, then head out on a boat to glide beneath the pines.
    — Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 21 Aug. 2026
  • The countryside glided by, and Abdeen took in the moving sky and the fields.
    — Rozina Ali, New Yorker, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of glide

Phrases Containing sail

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said uncle
sail
sailboat
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Cite this Entry

“Sail.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sail. Accessed 29 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on sail

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about sail

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