1
2
as in flowed
to move or proceed smoothly and readily
sailed through the latest assignment
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in hovered
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
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 sailed
As someone who has sailed through Alaska, the Galapagos, the Caribbean, and the Mediterranean, each has its own set of needs.
—
Rebecca Shinners, Travel + Leisure, 8 June 2026
Itten twice came close with headers that sailed just over the bar, but Australia survived.
—Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 June 2026
Democrats had nixed two Richard Nixon nominations to the Supreme Court and one of Reagan’s, but Antonin Scalia sailed through the Senate 98-0 in 1986, Anthony Kennedy passed on a 97-0 voice vote in 1988.
—Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 7 June 2026
Nearly half of the barrels released so far have sailed to Europe and other overseas destinations.
—Devika Krishna Kumar, Fortune, 6 June 2026
David Thoreson has sailed above the arctic circle and around continents — a life of adventure made possible because his mother taught him to sail on the Iowa Great Lakes in the state's northwest.
—ABC News, 4 June 2026
Historic showdown for New Mexico governor Former Interior Secretary Deb Haaland sailed to the Democratic nomination for New Mexico governor, setting up what could be a history-making election this fall.
—Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 3 June 2026
The Lady Kate river cruise boat has sailed the Connecticut River for decades previously under various names, including Camelot cruises and The Lady Katharine, a nod to the late oscar-winning actress Katharine Hepburn, a Hartford native and Connecticut resident.
—Pamela McLoughlin, Hartford Courant, 1 June 2026
Sánchez, during a mound visit in the sixth inning with Toronto down 6-0, appeared to engage with fans and wave his glove before an object sailed from the outfield and hit his right arm.
—Mitch Bannon, New York Times, 31 May 2026
Rebecca Shinners, Travel + Leisure, 8 June 2026
Itten twice came close with headers that sailed just over the bar, but Australia survived.
—Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 June 2026
Democrats had nixed two Richard Nixon nominations to the Supreme Court and one of Reagan’s, but Antonin Scalia sailed through the Senate 98-0 in 1986, Anthony Kennedy passed on a 97-0 voice vote in 1988.
—Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 7 June 2026
Nearly half of the barrels released so far have sailed to Europe and other overseas destinations.
—Devika Krishna Kumar, Fortune, 6 June 2026
David Thoreson has sailed above the arctic circle and around continents — a life of adventure made possible because his mother taught him to sail on the Iowa Great Lakes in the state's northwest.
—ABC News, 4 June 2026
Historic showdown for New Mexico governor Former Interior Secretary Deb Haaland sailed to the Democratic nomination for New Mexico governor, setting up what could be a history-making election this fall.
—Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 3 June 2026
The Lady Kate river cruise boat has sailed the Connecticut River for decades previously under various names, including Camelot cruises and The Lady Katharine, a nod to the late oscar-winning actress Katharine Hepburn, a Hartford native and Connecticut resident.
—Pamela McLoughlin, Hartford Courant, 1 June 2026
Sánchez, during a mound visit in the sixth inning with Toronto down 6-0, appeared to engage with fans and wave his glove before an object sailed from the outfield and hit his right arm.
—Mitch Bannon, New York Times, 31 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sailed
Verb
-
These booms—as well as a massive price tag—prompted the 2003 retirement of the only supersonic passenger plane, the Concorde, which ferried passengers starting in 1976.—
Meghan Bartels,
Scientific American,
6 June 2026
-
Washington has touted progress in negotiations with Tehran and several Asian nations have ferried some energy through the waterway, which has been blocked because of the conflict, but the global economy is suffering.—
Tom Chivers,
semafor.com,
22 May 2026
Verb
-
Tears flowed as a historic postseason ended deep in San Diego County.—
Dan Albano,
Oc Register,
7 June 2026
-
Crucially, Ngai says, the term for extraterrestrials flowed from the word for foreigners, not the other way around.—
Harmeet Kaur,
CNN Money,
3 June 2026
Verb
-
In college, my smoking habit hovered at a solid two packs of Marlboro Lights a day.—
Kimberly McCreight,
Time,
3 June 2026
-
The reason the recent numbers are important is that the proposal would lock in a 50/50 split, whereas the free-market system has historically hovered around it.—
Maury Brown,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
Verb
-
Wednesday night, the Angels teed off on Lorenzen, the Rockies’ struggling right-hander, and cruised to an 11-4 win in Anaheim.—
Patrick Saunders,
Denver Post,
4 June 2026
-
Kavan cruised into the fifth, not allowing another hit until Mia Williams went deep to straightaway center field for her 27th home run of the season, a two-run blast that made it 6-3.—
Oc Register,
Oc Register,
4 June 2026
Verb
-
Each time, brown leaves that had drifted from distant trees quivered and spun on the surface.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 June 2026
-
As the fire raged, embers drifted to the south and ignited several spot fires, the city said.—
Jakob Rodgers,
Mercury News,
11 June 2026
Verb
-
Some floated Beth Moore as a possible candidate for SBC president.—
Marc Ramirez,
USA Today,
8 June 2026
-
The proposal is preliminary, which means the final product could be different than what is being floated at present.—
George Avalos,
Mercury News,
8 June 2026
Verb
-
Over two partial days and one full day of fishing – roughly 15 hours total – the three of us boated 53 catfish up to 25 pounds.—
Brad Dokken,
Twin Cities,
29 Aug. 2025
-
Many of the 30,000 tourists last year who boated down the Paraguay River beside the Serra do Amolar, about 60 miles downriver from Porto Jofre, were guests on liveaboard fishing charters.—
Megan Spurrell,
Condé Nast Traveler,
25 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
The flying-theater attraction has virtually glided around world locations before, but now has multiple visual stops in the USA, part of the celebration of the country’s 250th anniversary.—
Dewayne Bevil,
The Orlando Sentinel,
27 May 2026
-
The gold plates effortlessly glided through both my real hair and the clip-ins, straightening them evenly without any snags.—
Essence Wiley,
InStyle,
24 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sailed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sailed. Accessed 13 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
