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 Huskers had an opportunity to add to their lead at the end of the first half, but Cunanan's 40-yard field goal attempt sailed wide right. — Ryan Canfield Outkick, FOXNews.com, 10 Oct. 2026 They can be deployed or furled in minutes with the push of a button, eliminating conventional rigging from the deck and allowing the yacht to sail with far less manpower. — Robb Report, 9 Oct. 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
  • Its location in an industrial working waterway won’t provide glorious views, but there’s something whimsical about hot tub boating on a summer’s evening, especially with a local Driftwood beer in hand.
    — Adrienne Matei, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Oct. 2026
  • The 334-acre reservoir allows for boating, including sailboats, jet skiing, paddleboarding and kayaking.
    — Tiney Ricciardi, Denver Post, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of boat
Verb
  • The question confronting Israel and its international partners is not simply whether money should flow into Gaza, but also who controls it—and whether the next arrangement will avoid the failures of the last.
    — Eric Cortellessa, Time, 18 Oct. 2026
  • The program could also be targeted rather than universal — triggered by sector-specific unemployment spikes, income level, or geography, so the money flows first to the workers AI disrupts most.
    — Sarah Cannon, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of flow
Verb
  • At the time of their call, temperatures hovered around 15 degrees, and the pair lacked adequate clothing, food or water to safely endure the night, according to the sheriff’s office.
    — Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026
  • But when Alexander saw the green machine, the tree excavator, feet away from the 100-year-old oak tree that hovers over the corner of Salem Drive and Idlewood Circle, that was not fine.
    — Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of hover
Noun
  • Christopher Nolan’s recent film reminded me of another time when the world was awash in ambiguity and leaders needed to navigate the perilous voyage across unfamiliar territory.
    — Jeff DeGraff, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Strong demand for oil, particularly from Asia, continues to provide an incentive for tanker operators to transport energy supplies from the Persian Gulf, even as security threats complicate voyages.
    — Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of voyage
Verb
  • Oman is also a likely beneficiary of the Hormuz disruption, with separate pipeline plans for its ports to safely ferry fossil fuels trapped in the Gulf.
    — semafor.com, semafor.com, 16 Oct. 2026
  • The Cutter Tampa’s crew returned to Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale ferrying 29,600 pounds of cocaine and 2,355 pounds of marijuana.
    — David Goodhue October 15, Miami Herald, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of ferry
Verb
  • This works for normal highway cruising but creates a bottleneck during intense track use.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 15 Oct. 2026
  • The trunk-rattling track oozes bold proclamations about bag chasing, love at first sight, and cruising past his adversaries.
    — Carl Lamarre, Billboard, 15 Oct. 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
  • With a pair of real horns, one of them plays the bull by gliding toward the fuchsia bullfighting cape.
    — Eyder Peralta, NPR, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Xerf uses dual-frequency energy administered through a patented device that glides across the skin.
    — Shelby Wax, Vogue, 12 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 20 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on sail

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about sail

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