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
For longtime fans of the brand, Ponant is a reliably luxe way to sail expedition-style to adventurous destinations—though as one fellow traveler and repeat guest pointed out to me, several other cruise lines now offer this once-rare combination. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Sep. 2026 In December, the luxury outfitter andBeyond will launch the 15-cabin Amazon Explorer, which will sail the Peruvian Amazon throughout 2027. — Hannah Selinger, Travel + Leisure, 23 Sep. 2026
Noun
France paused for a moment to watch his career-high 21st homer sail away and then tossed his bat and began his trot. — ABC News, 19 Sep. 2026 The maritime industry is under pressure to clean up its act, giving rise to everything from high-tech rigid wing sails to pioneering zero-emission designs like the Yara Birkeland all-electric autonomous cargo vessel. — New Atlas, 16 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
  • While sentiment is positive and the cash is flowing, this is a good thing.
    — Yerbol Orynbayev, Fortune, 3 Oct. 2026
  • In winter, several migratory duck species spend the season on its clear-flowing creeks and ponds, including beaver ponds.
    — Charles Seabrook, AJC.com, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of flow
Verb
  • In fact, total non-pensioner benefits have hovered between 4% and 5% for more than 40 years.
    — The Week UK, TheWeek, 4 Oct. 2026
  • America's confidence in the media is hovering at an all-time low.
    — Matt Calkins OutKick, FOXNews.com, 3 Oct. 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
  • Treasury said Caspian had transported IRGC personnel and weapons to Syria and said Meraj had ferried illicit cargo, including weapons, to the Syrian government.
    — Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 2 Oct. 2026
  • These future space stations will need spacecraft to ferry people to them.
    — Jackie Wattles, CNN Money, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of ferry
Verb
  • The Chicago Blackhawks were coming off a less-than-ideal season opener to Vegas, where the Stanley Cup runner-ups cruised to a 5-2 win.
    — Kalen Lumpkins, Chicago Tribune, 2 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
  • Wrapped in a tough, drop-proof fabric shell that floats and shrugs off water, it is engineered to survive real-world chaos.
    — Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 28 Sep. 2026
  • The project will combine an electric workboat, a 40-kilowatt fast charger, and a mobile floating energy storage system called ChargeBarge.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of float
Verb
  • Start with clean skin and apply moisturizer or oil so your fingers glide.
    — Samantha Agate, Kansas City Star, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Take the account of a giant, gentle whale shark gliding through the blue waters off the Southern California coast.
    — Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of glide

Phrases Containing sail

Browse Nearby Words

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 4 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on sail

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about sail

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