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
2
as in flowing
to move or proceed smoothly and readily
sailed through the latest assignment
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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 sailing
Alice Gainer, CBS News, 4 June 2026
The 1994 World Cup ended when Italy’s Roberto Baggio sent his penalty kick sailing high over the net and doomed his side’s chances.
—Jonathan Lemire, The Atlantic, 4 June 2026
The Michigan couple, both US nationals, had been sailing together for more than a decade, documenting their life at sea on social media.
—Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN Money, 2 June 2026
The area offers a clear line of sight of Space's Starbase test site (as well as the boats sailing around Port Isabel, which is nice).
—Tariq Malik, Space.com, 18 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for sailing
Verb
The Eagle is a sister ship to ones sailing in from Romania, Portugal and Germany.
—Alice Gainer, CBS News, 4 June 2026
The 1994 World Cup ended when Italy’s Roberto Baggio sent his penalty kick sailing high over the net and doomed his side’s chances.
—Jonathan Lemire, The Atlantic, 4 June 2026
The Michigan couple, both US nationals, had been sailing together for more than a decade, documenting their life at sea on social media.
—Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN Money, 2 June 2026
The area offers a clear line of sight of Space's Starbase test site (as well as the boats sailing around Port Isabel, which is nice).
—Tariq Malik, Space.com, 18 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for sailing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sailing
Adjective
-
He-Man was now a jolly, quip-ready hero, whose best friends were scaredy-cat Cringer (a green-and-yellow tiger who transformed into Battle Cat), and an annoying, hovering magician called Orko.—
Richard Edwards,
Space.com,
1 June 2026
Verb
-
He's been cruising this season, leading the NTT IndyCar Series with 386 points, and looking every bit like the guy to beat (again).—
Kilty Cleary,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 July 2025
-
Chicago and Northwest Indiana formed an industrial hub then, with plentiful factory jobs from the steel mills behind the buildings that make up the city's iconic skyline, to car factories assembling the Fords cruising along Lake Shore Drive.—
Michael Loria,
USA Today,
3 July 2025
Verb
-
Billions of dollars are flowing into the game through the NBA’s new TV deal, with even more money likely on the horizon thanks to expansion fees.—
Nick Friedell,
New York Times,
17 June 2026
-
That’s hardly the only public money flowing to Kansas City’s World Cup hosting efforts, which include six matches that will be played between June 16 and July 11.—
Justin Birnbaum,
Sportico.com,
16 June 2026
Verb
-
Pino was on another civilian’s boat, floating next to that vessel, and then got on Brutto’s boat, the footage shows.—
David Goodhue,
Miami Herald,
10 June 2026
-
The lawsuit, which was filed in a California federal district court by Joshua Davis and other attorneys from Berger Montague and Freedman Normand Friedland, is premised on ideas that have been floating around the House settlement and its implementation for some time.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
10 June 2026
Adjective
-
In addition, the action includes top-tier spider combat and awesome web-slinging and web-gliding traversal abilities.—
George Yang,
PC Magazine,
1 May 2026
Verb
-
He had been charged with far-less severe counts of misdemeanor careless boating after the original Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission investigation ended in August 2023.—
David Goodhue,
Miami Herald,
10 June 2026
-
Before their red carpet debut, the pair had been seen traveling around the world, from boating and swimming in Ibiza to exploring Tokyo.—
Kara Nesvig,
PEOPLE,
8 June 2026
Verb
-
This means there are never any strangers drifting past your breakfast table or competing for loungers.—
Arion McNicoll,
TheWeek,
15 June 2026
-
Keeping his thoughts from drifting too much, even about Cuba, has propelled his career forward.—
Assistant Sports Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
15 June 2026
Verb
-
In April, Stephen Woods’ son-in-law, Ryan Jennings, was swimming with his two oldest children while on a family vacation in Florida when a rip current dragged them out.—
Jessica Guynn,
USA Today,
14 June 2026
-
In the demo, I was treated to a cutscene of my character breaking their handcuffs and swimming ashore to the town of Ashenridge.—
Jacqueline Goldblatt,
PC Magazine,
13 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sailing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sailing. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
