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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

Relevance
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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
Kent missed a 34-yard attempt late in the second quarter, which sailed way off the mark four snaps after missing a 37-yarder negated by an offsides penalty. — ABC News, 19 Sep. 2026 The first pass of the afternoon from Rutgers quarterback Dylan Lonergan sailed past his receiver and directly to USC safety Christian Pierce, who returned the ball to the Scarlet Knights’ 24-yard line. — Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 19 Sep. 2026
Noun
Sitting five feet above the water, sailors suffer from severe blind spots caused by the towering presence of the carbon-fiber wing sail. — Andrew Rice, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026 But the real entertainment is watching the six sails unfurl valiantly in the breeze as the sailing yachts, Wind Star, Wind Spirit, and Wind Surf, get underway to whisk passengers to the next idyllic Greek village. — Condé Nast Traveler, 10 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
  • 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
  • In 2017, Clear Lake’s dire condition led the state to establish a blue ribbon commission, with tribal participation, focused on cleaning up the lake to bolster the local boating and fishing economy.
    — Noah Haggerty, Los Angeles Times, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of boat
Verb
  • During 2020 and 2021, federal funding was flowing intononprofits through the PPP forgivable loans and other programs.
    — Phil Buchanan, Fortune, 26 Sep. 2026
  • Soon after the war started, Iran blocked the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway through which some 20% of the world’s oil flowed before the conflict, sending shock waves through the world economy.
    — Freddie Clayton, NBC news, 26 Sep. 2026
Definition of flow
Verb
  • After lingering over spaghetti alle vongole at Ristorante Lido Azzurro, which hovers over the sea near Amalfi’s harbor, zip around the coast to sea caverns and grottos, pausing for dips in secluded spots away from the crowds.
    — Lane Nieset, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Sep. 2026
  • Yields on Japan’s 10-year bonds rose to their highest level in three decades, while US Treasury yields hovered above 5%, a level not seen since the 2007 financial crisis, helping push American mortgage rates to more than 7%.
    — Jeronimo Gonzalez, semafor.com, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of hover
Noun
  • This year’s voyage east will mark Jimmy Kimmel Live‘s eighth edition of Brooklyn shows.
    — Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 25 Sep. 2026
  • Sending oil to Asia through the Suez Canal instead of the Red Sea can add as much as a month to the voyage.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of voyage
Verb
  • Japan, too, is coming in clutch for NASA, Isaacman said, with a multibillion-dollar commitment to develop a pressurized rover to ferry astronauts across the Moon.
    — Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 22 Sep. 2026
  • When the river trolley was first launched in 2014, it was intended to ferry locals from point to point along the river.
    — Susannah Bryan, Sun Sentinel, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of ferry
Verb
  • Lovejoy, which is led by former Southlake Carroll legendary coach Todd Dodge, has cruised to three easy wins before the Leopards survived Fort Worth All Saints Episcopal 30-28 last week on a Hail Mary as time ran out.
    — Darren Lauber, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Sep. 2026
  • The semi-custom yacht combines elegant design and meticulous craftsmanship with bluewater cruising capability.
    — Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of cruise
Verb
  • Soon, the pincher floats free of her consciousness, briefly inhabiting the mind of Pola or Ines before flickering back into herself.
    — Kathryn Schulz, New Yorker, 21 Sep. 2026
  • This half is the result of genetic material that can clip itself out of the DNA sequence, float off, and re-root somewhere else.
    — Jake Buehler, Quanta Magazine, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of float
Verb
  • Eventually, the water will form into distinct beads that glide easily around the pan.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2026
  • Infused with sunflower seed oil, castor seed oil, jojoba seed oil, squalane, and shea butter, Dear Dahlia’s Lip Paradise Sensual Lip Glow feels like, well, butter gliding onto your lips.
    — Sarah Han, Allure, 24 Sep. 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 28 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on sail

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about sail

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