sail 1 of 2

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 Spanish crew of 86 sailed for 35 days. The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 13 Oct. 2025 However, historians note Columbus actually intended to sail to India, mistakenly thinking sailing west would offer a quicker route to South Asia from Western Europe, according to PBS. Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 12 Oct. 2025
Noun
Arraf, an outspoken activist for decades in support of Palestinians, set sail on a small boat with humanitarian supplies to the Palestinian territory with other activists to Gaza. Frank Witsil, Freep.com, 13 Oct. 2025 This particular ship set sail earlier this month at the 2025 Austin City Limits Music Festival, where both musician-actors were booked to perform on the same day. Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 12 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for sail
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sail
Verb
  • Family members said Maggie was generous, loved hosting friends and family at her home, and loved spending time boating with her sons.
    Saleen Martin, USA Today, 15 Oct. 2025
  • The brothers both frequently post about hanging out with each other on social media, including going boating and playing golf together.
    Rebecca Aizin, PEOPLE, 14 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Fiercely and humanely protect whatever gives you the most joy and grounding as it is needed to provide the core energy and wellspring from which everything else flows.
    Kat McGowan, NPR, 18 Oct. 2025
  • Brandy and Monica were on their feet for almost every song, grooving alongside a captivating ensemble of dancers who flowed through hip hop and contemporary dance styles.
    Tamia Fowlkes, jsonline.com, 18 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Weekly jobless claims remain volatile, hovering around 217,000 as of mid-October, while consumer confidence has stagnated at historically low levels.
    Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Oct. 2025
  • Just smear fake blood on your face, get gussied up in your finest wedding attire, and make sure to pose throughout the night, your lips hovering just inches away from each other, but never quite touching.
    James Factora, Them., 17 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Columbus landed in the Bahamas in 1492 and explored the Caribbean and South America in future voyages.
    Bebe Hodges, Cincinnati Enquirer, 11 Oct. 2025
  • He's also asked Lo to tag along and cover the voyage.
    Allison DeGrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • While thousands of soldiers and rescue teams search for the missing and deliver aid, helicopters are ferrying supplies to isolated zones and private construction firms are helping to reopen key roads.
    CNN Money, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2025
  • The spacecraft is due in the years ahead to help ferry NASA astronauts to the lunar surface and also carry the first humans to Mars, under SpaceX founder Elon Musk's vision.
    Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 9 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • In nonleague action, Jordi Higgins and Lilly Eccles finished with two goals apiece, as Bishop Feehan (7-7) cruised to a 5-2 win over Notre Dame (Hingham).
    Tyler McManus, Boston Herald, 16 Oct. 2025
  • Nothing, however, replaces cruising around stacks of books at a real bookstore, thumbing through the tomes that catch your eye.
    Terri Daxon, Oc Register, 16 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The project was built over 10 years, during which the architects combined local materials with advanced engineering to ensure the building’s striking, floating appearance was matched by practical functionality and structural stability.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 19 Oct. 2025
  • Since Hereditary floated into theaters in 2018, writer-director Ari Aster has evolved his interests considerably, from the sunny folk-horror of Midsommar (2019) to the phantasmagoric Beau Is Afraid (2023) to the social thriller Eddington (2025).
    Gwen Ihnat, Entertainment Weekly, 18 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Her voice, languid and honeyed, can glide over sensual R&B, bouncing reggaetón, shimmering pop or nostalgic jazz.
    Isabela Raygoza, Billboard, 16 Oct. 2025
  • Lego Batman can effortlessly glide from foe to foe, linking punches and kicks from one bad guy to the next.
    Jordan Moreau, Variety, 14 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Sail.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sail. Accessed 21 Oct. 2025.

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