Synonyms of sailing

sailing 1 of 2

adjective

as in hovering

Related Words

• hovering
• gliding
• hanging
• drifting
• wafting
• floating
• poised
• awash
• afloat
• unsinkable
• free-floating
• buoyant
• floaty

Dissimilar Words

• sinking
• sunk
• high and dry
• aground

sailing

2 of 2

verb

present participle of sail

1

as in cruising

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

• cruising
• boating
• ferrying
• navigating
• voyaging
• kayaking
• shipping (out)
• coasting
• canoeing
• yachting
• making sail
• taking ship

2

as in flowing

to move or proceed smoothly and readily

sailed through the latest assignment

Synonyms & Similar Words

• flowing
• cruising
• gliding
• drifting
• flying
• sliding
• racing
• rolling
• sweeping
• coasting
• brushing
• slipping
• bowling
• streaming
• speeding
• rushing
• skimming
• breezing
• whisking

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• struggling
• floundering
• stumbling
• limping
• trudging
• plodding
• lumbering
• shuffling
• stamping
• tramping
• laboring
• stomping
• toiling
• shambling
• stumping

3

as in floating

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

• hovering
• floating
• swimming
• drifting
• gliding
• riding
• bobbing
• hanging
• wafting
• dangling
• poising
• suspending
• rafting
• buoying
• ballooning

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• sinking
• settling
• diving
• plunging
• lunging
• dipping
• immersing
• submerging
• submersing

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of sailing

Verb

Eight of the 57 guests sailing aboard National Geographic Sea Bird reported being ill during its July 15 voyage, along with five crew members, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. — Nathan Diller, USA Today, 27 July 2026

In 2011, Rutherford took on a solo, nonstop circumnavigation of North and South America, departing Maryland and sailing 27,077 miles in 309 days through some of the most dangerous waters on Earth. — Meredith Wilshere, PEOPLE, 26 July 2026

Since The Odyssey has already hit theaters — where it’s been dominating, sailing past $600 million globally in its second weekend — The Crowded Room actor has turned his attention back to Spider-Man promotion, which releases on July 31. — Carly Thomas, HollywoodReporter, 26 July 2026

No one was making mistakes; the boats ahead were going fast and sailing the right way. — Andrew Rice, New York Times, 26 July 2026

Odysseus escapes the attack aboard his lone remaining ship, sailing on to the island of the sorceress Circe. — Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 26 July 2026

While Odysseus is sailing all over the Mediterranean trying to get home, Anne Hathaway’s Penelope is back on Ithaca trying to keep at bay Robert Pattinson’s Antinous and his designs on the throne. — Joe Reid, Vulture, 24 July 2026

Visitors can enjoy sailing on Penobscot Bay, browse independent shops and galleries, tour maritime museums, and visit nearby Owls Head State Park. — Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 21 July 2026

The partnership, which begins this summer, will result in new menu items, experiences and product offerings at Anaheim’s Disneyland Resort, Orlando’s Walt Disney World and on Disney cruise ships sailing out of ports in North America. — Samantha Masunaga, Los Angeles Times, 21 July 2026