sail 1 of 2

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

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2
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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sail

2 of 2

noun

as in voyage
a journey over water in a vessel we went for a brief sail on the bay to relax

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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 sail
Verb
The Lady Kate river cruise boat has sailed the Connecticut River for decades previously under various names, including Camelot cruises and The Lady Katharine, a nod to the late oscar-winning actress Katharine Hepburn, a Hartford native and Connecticut resident. Pamela McLoughlin, Hartford Courant, 1 June 2026 There’s a dry tank, which is when the ships are basically sailing. Katie Campione, Deadline, 31 May 2026
Noun
For couples looking to swap a formal rehearsal for something more relaxed, the staff can also arrange custom outings—like a private catamaran sail to kick off the celebration. Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 31 May 2026 Here on Earth, the boom would warp or buckle because of gravity or wind, but in space, the causes are slight differences in temperature or radiation pressure, or even slight imperfections in the sail itself, putting different forces on the boom all along its length. Kiona N. Smith, Space.com, 31 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for sail
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sail
Verb
  • Private docks mean boating, wake surfing, paddleboarding and swimming without the logistics of public access.
    Spencer Elliott, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026
  • Lynette Hooker, 55, disappeared on April 4 while boating in the Bahamas with her husband, Brian Hooker, 58.
    Saleen Martin, USA Today, 28 May 2026
Verb
  • California air regulators approved a sweeping update of the state’s cap-and-invest program, tightening the pollution cap while reshaping how billions in climate dollars flow through communities and industry.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 30 May 2026
  • As those creative juices start flowing, the superstar comedian realizes her illness might be fertile ground for a new special.
    Michael Schneider, Variety, 29 May 2026
Verb
  • Chip stocks, however, stumbled; bitcoin is hovering at its weakest since the war began, private credit is throwing off sparks again — and a flesh-eating parasite has turned up in Texas.
    Anniek Bao, CNBC, 5 June 2026
  • The first experiment featured an artificial flower placed above a pit in the floor so that there was insufficient space for a bee to hover to reach the flower.
    Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 4 June 2026
Noun
  • Carnival Cruise Line distributes guidance to guests on every voyage to Lifou in New Caledonia, for example, the cruise line told USA TODAY.
    Nathan Diller, USA Today, 4 June 2026
  • The country's newest aircraft carrier undertook an eight-month maiden voyage in January 2024, swiftly followed by a nearly 11-month deployment.
    Steve Walsh, NPR, 4 June 2026
Verb
  • Blue Origin was set to ferry 48 satellites for Amazon’s nascent Leo internet-from-space venture this week, as part of several upcoming missions.
    Annie Palmer, CNBC, 1 June 2026
  • Whichever lander ends up being selected for Artemis IV would rendezvous with NASA astronauts aboard an Orion vehicle in lunar orbit and then ferry them to the surface.
    Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 29 May 2026
Verb
  • Starter Payton Tolle cruised through two innings on 26 pitches but needed 68 pitches for the next 2 2/3 innings.
    Jen McCaffrey, New York Times, 29 May 2026
  • That deployment model remains relatively unusual within expedition cruising, where many vessels stay tied to a single geography.
    Rachel Ingram, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026
Verb
  • Two are modern A-frames with full-height windows that frame the bay, clawfoot tubs, and pellet stoves; one is a converted 1970s bus with a floating A-frame loft above.
    Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 31 May 2026
  • Based in New Orleans and Paris, Eloueini Architecture is celebrated for designing houses that fold, twist, stagger and float with a restless energy that belies the simplicity of their forms.
    Fred Albert, Forbes.com, 31 May 2026
Verb
  • As the train climbs higher, sweeping mountain and valley views unfold on both sides, and in the colder months, skiers and snowboarders can be seen gliding down the slopes below.
    Lauren David, Travel + Leisure, 29 May 2026
  • Those moisturizing ingredients help create a silky-smooth base upon which your razor can simply glide, even without the traditional soapy lather.
    Eden Stuart, Allure, 29 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Sail.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sail. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.

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