sailed

verb

past tense of sail
1
as in ferried
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 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 Only a handful of families sailed onboard, with children under 10 numbering in the single digits. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Sep. 2026 With nine seconds to play, Underwood dropped back to pass, scrambled and heaved a last-ditch pass that sailed out of bounds. — Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 8 Sep. 2026 Underwood sailed his first Hail Mary attempt out of the back of the end zone, and despite the clock appearing to hit triple zeros to end the game, officials added one second back onto the clock after a review, which led to Underwood's heroics. — Mark Harris Outkick, FOXNews.com, 7 Sep. 2026 The play only happened because officials controversially ruled that Underwood’s first attempt at a Hail Mary sailed out of the end zone before time expired. — Austin Meek, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026 The aircraft carrier sailed a few hundred miles south of Bermuda for the launch. — Tariq Malik, Space.com, 6 Sep. 2026 The Milestone Recognition Program also bestows benefits based on how many days passengers have sailed with the line. — Nathan Diller, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2026 And then Timmy and Oli sailed east across the Pacific to America, a three-month voyage. — George Boedecker Jr, Harpers Magazine, 1 Sep. 2026 When his throw sailed wide, Rengifo fell to the ground and two additional runners scored, tying the game at 6. — ABC News, 29 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sailed
  1. ferried
  2. flowed
  3. hovered
  4. cruised
  5. drifted
  6. floated
  7. boated
  8. glided
Verb
  • The Pilot once ferried maritime pilots to larger ships in Boston Harbor.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Madilynn Becker, Miss Kansas While Madilynn Becker has long since given up most of her rituals and superstitions, there was one that ferried her through her young pageant career.
    — Tabitha Parent, PEOPLE, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of ferried
Verb
  • For generations, Christian mission flowed primarily from Europe and North America to Africa.
    — Nimi Princewill, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2026
  • About 20 million barrels of Gulf oil flowed through the strait prior to the start of the war.
    — Aamer Madhani, Los Angeles Times, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of flowed
Verb
  • West Texas Intermediate futures last hovered above $94 per barrel.
    — Sarah Min,Hugh Leask, CNBC, 8 Sep. 2026
  • The last episode ended with Heather sloppily approaching Lisa while Lisa’s Ultimate Girls Trip buddies hovered on the sidelines, ready to defend their new friend.
    — Ile-Ife Okantah, Vulture, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of hovered
Verb
  • On Sunday morning, great clouds covered the tops of the city’s tallest skyscrapers, but the weather cleared up while the mother and daughter cruised together as participants in Bike the Drive.
    — Finnegan Belleau, Chicago Tribune, 6 Sep. 2026
  • The 36-year-old cruised through seven scoreless innings, scattering three hits and three walks while striking out seven batters.
    — Jen McCaffrey, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of cruised
Verb
  • The Rams did secure one interception on Purdy, when Quentin Lake drifted back into zone and Purdy tried to force a ball to Evans and threw it right at Lake.
    — Nate Atkins, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
  • The impact jostled loose a few petals before the circle of blossoms slowly drifted away on the luminescent blue Bermudian swells.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of drifted
Verb
  • And, truth be told, this Philadelphia team has floated relatively under the radar for years because championships weren’t expected.
    — Tony Jones, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Coleman fired off the line of scrimmage, running a wheel route when quarterback Cam Miller floated the ball his way.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of floated
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
Definition of boated
Verb
  • The pinkish squid glided two miles beneath the surface, its long, pale legs trailing from undulating fins, stunning scientists who know remarkably little about its diet, behavior or reproduction.
    — Fedor Zarkhin, Los Angeles Times, 5 Sep. 2026
  • Merino glided away from challenges to keep Arsenal in control.
    — Thom Harris, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of glided

Browse Nearby Words

sailboats
sailed
sailed into
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Cite this Entry

“Sailed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sailed. Accessed 13 Sep. 2026.

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