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
On a third-and-goal from the 1, the center snap sailed past Mellalieu and rolled 35 yards before being recovered by the Sea Kings. — Lou Ponsi, Oc Register, 7 Nov. 2026 Facing a fourth and four from the UCLA 38-yard line, Gophers coach PJ Fleck sent Drzewiecki to attempt a 56-yard field goal in the third, but the ball sailed just right of the post. — Grace Praxmarer, Los Angeles Times, 7 Nov. 2026
Noun
For year-round use, add shade with sail shades, pergolas or umbrellas, and plan for cold weather with a fire pit or propane heater (stored and used safely) plus heated blankets. — Lauren Schuster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Oct. 2026 Conveying the idea would likely involve several signs — which somewhat takes the wind out of rawdog’s superlative sails. — New York Times, 22 Oct. 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
  • By day, wellness enthusiasts join morning yoga sessions while boating aficionados compare charter plans over breakfast.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Nov. 2026
  • Best Things to Do At the heart of Eagles Mere Village is Eagles Mere Lake, which serves as the focal point for swimming, fishing, paddleboarding, and boating in the summer.
    — Kristin Granero, Travel + Leisure, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of boat
Verb
  • None of us are big drinkers, but the beauty of the surroundings inspired the good times to flow, and, well, so did the wine.
    — Claudia Laroye, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Nov. 2026
  • The film follows those who profited from the huge sums that flowed from across Japan into the radiation clean-up of the Tohoku region.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 7 Nov. 2026
Definition of flow
Verb
  • Airline and ground personnel at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport reported seeing a UFO hovering over the airport and then darting up, leaving a hole in the clouds.
    — Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 7 Nov. 2026
  • Revenue collection has hovered around 17% of GDP for the last half-century (including when income-tax rates were much higher than today).
    — Veronique De Rugy, Oc Register, 7 Nov. 2026
Definition of hover
Noun
  • Guests were instead given 30-minute appointments, and slots tended to fill quickly for the duration of the voyage.
    — Zach Weiss, Robb Report, 7 Nov. 2026
  • Desley Thomas, who had already booked her travel and paid for a four-and-a-half-year contract, was supposed to start her voyage in early November.
    — Shayla Love, New Yorker, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of voyage
Verb
  • The tiny containers – which hold the tools to fix DNA misspellings and guide them to the right place – are considered safer than the older method of ferrying the drug through the body inside the shell of an inactivated virus.
    — Gerry Smith, CNBC, 6 Nov. 2026
  • FlyTahoe, a company planning to use electric hydrofoil boats to ferry passengers across Lake Tahoe, is developing infrastructure around the lake to support its planned service.
    — Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 5 Nov. 2026
Definition of ferry
Verb
  • Wednesday’s game was very different, as the Panthers cruised early and took advantage of Hawks mistakes, a familiar story this season.
    — Kalen Lumpkins, Chicago Tribune, 5 Nov. 2026
  • Kiros, a 29-year-old Ethiopian immigrant and lawyer, cruised to victory Tuesday night in the reliably blue district, which includes most of Denver.
    — Elena Moore, NPR, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of cruise
Verb
  • As on Does Spring Hide Its Joy, the question of who is making what sound—of what physical processes generated the music that now floats from a pair of headphones—loses its charge within a few minutes.
    — Sasha Geffen, Pitchfork, 3 Nov. 2026
  • Root beer floats from the store’s cafe will be available at a discount, and election coverage will be shown on a projection screen.
    — Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of float
Verb
  • At times jutting outward and at others gliding along the grain of electronic texture, Chen’s voice tracks the form of the instrumentals like a sculptor working in relief.
    — James Gui, Pitchfork, 4 Nov. 2026
  • It is carried to high speed and altitude by a rocket booster before separating and gliding through the atmosphere toward its target.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 4 Nov. 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 13 Nov. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on sail

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about sail

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