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 ship’s April transatlantic cruise starts in Port Canaveral before sailing to Bermuda, the Azores, Portugal, and England. — Megan Dubois, Southern Living, 29 Sep. 2026 However, the average vessel isn't exactly sailing around the world for years on end like a commercial freighter. — New Atlas, 29 Sep. 2026
Noun
Drop, splash, sail Typically, dual-environment drones are heavy, complex, and ruinously expensive. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 30 Sep. 2026 On the left side, a series of buttons and automatic commands activate the lines to lift the sails, even in rough sea conditions. — Stefano Pozzebon, CNN Money, 28 Sep. 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
  • Deadly boating tragedies are common in the central African country, where late-night travel and overcrowded vessels are often blamed.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 5 Oct. 2026
  • The park has boating access, paddlesport rentals, and a swimming beach, as well as hiking trails, campgrounds, and mini cabins.
    — Savannah Born, Travel + Leisure, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of boat
Verb
  • Despite steady attacks from Iran, oil tankers and other commercial vessels have continued flowing through the narrow waterway.
    — Jason Ma, Fortune, 10 Oct. 2026
  • Charles Jencks, the late American cultural theorist and a famously exacting critic, saw in its flowing forms both sensuality and an important new direction for architecture.
    — Robb Report, Robb Report, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of flow
Verb
  • Flight-tracking site flightradar24 showed all flights to Riyadh had either been diverted or canceled, with only a helicopter hovering over the airport at one point.
    — CNN Money, CNN Money, 10 Oct. 2026
  • Data released Thursday by the US Department of Labor showed that initial jobless claims fell by 2,000 to 197,000 for the week ending October 3rd, hovering near a 57 year low for a fourth consecutive week.
    — , CNBC, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of hover
Noun
  • The 210,000-dwt Mineral Europa is embarking on its maiden voyage to Australia.
    — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 10 Oct. 2026
  • This sailing yacht is about to set off on a 1,826-day voyage across the globe.
    — Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of voyage
Verb
  • Residents of some leafy New York City suburbs say their peace and quiet is being shattered by helicopters ferrying even wealthier travelers out to the Hamptons, according to new reporting.
    — Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 9 Oct. 2026
  • High costs But shippers are ferrying crude through Hormuz at high cost to the lives of their crews and in freight and insurance rates, Bockmann said.
    — Spencer Kimball, CNBC, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of ferry
Verb
  • Hopkins had only two kills in the first game Wednesday as the North Stars cruised to the win.
    — Paul Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Caitlin Clark put together a historic performance as the Indiana Fever cruised to a 99-89 victory in Game 2 of their playoff matchup against the Aces on Tuesday, forcing a win-or-go-home Game 3 in Las Vegas.
    — Jon Root OutKick, FOXNews.com, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of cruise
Verb
  • Later, or earlier, the square reflection of a fluorescent light against the window resembles a rectangular moon floating in a clear blue sky.
    — David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 12 Oct. 2026
  • With the false color, the vegetation surrounding the salt pan appears in shades of red, while the salt pan itself looks like a mix of bright, light and dark blues with cloudy sediment floating around.
    — Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of float
Verb
  • His camera glides around rooms and pans at opportune moments to maximize the power of offscreen space.
    — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Arrive to the hotel by boat from the train station or airport and glide up an empty canal to the water entrance where a grand, rosy Gothic building rises out of the water.
    — Mary Holland, Robb Report, 8 Oct. 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 14 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on sail

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about sail

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