Synonyms of sails

sails 1 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of sail

1

as in boats

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

• boats
• ferries
• cruises
• voyages
• ships (out)
• navigates
• kayaks
• yachts
• canoes
• coasts
• takes ship
• makes sail

2

as in flows

to move or proceed smoothly and readily

sailed through the latest assignment

Synonyms & Similar Words

• flows
• cruises
• drifts
• glides
• sweeps
• brushes
• slips
• races
• flies
• slides
• streams
• rolls
• bowls
• speeds
• breezes
• rushes
• coasts
• whisks
• skims

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• struggles
• flounders
• stumbles
• limps
• trudges
• stamps
• shuffles
• plods
• lumbers
• stumps
• stomps
• toils
• labors
• tramps
• shambles

3

as in floats

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

• floats
• hovers
• swims
• drifts
• glides
• rides
• wafts
• hangs
• bobs
• poises
• buoys
• dangles
• suspends
• rafts
• balloons

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• sinks
• settles
• dives
• plunges
• lunges
• dips
• submerges
• immerses
• submerses

sails

2 of 2

noun

plural of sail

as in voyages

a journey over water in a vessel

we went for a brief sail on the bay to relax

Synonyms & Similar Words

• voyages
• cruises
• crossings
• passages

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of sails

Verb

The Jules Verne Trophy is awarded to the boat that sails non-stop fastest around the world. — Andrew Rice, New York Times, 24 July 2026

Adventure Canada Adventure Canada sails to remote parts of the Arctic, including Canada and Greenland, and the company’s trips feature endless fodder for photo enthusiasts. — Kristen E. Pope, Travel + Leisure, 13 July 2026

Star of the Seas still sails out of Port Canaveral, housing guests on what is tied for the title of world’s largest cruise ship. — Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 21 June 2026

As the ship sails the Antarctic Peninsula, passengers go on excursions, such as taking a Zodiac or kayaking, to view wildlife and immerse themselves in nature. — Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 16 June 2026

Odysseus sails closer to Scylla on the advice of Circe, who had identified Charybdis as more dangerous. — Gitanjali Roy, Encyclopedia Britannica, 12 June 2026

The moment Gabriel sails the penalty kick over the net – and PSG turns nerves into jubilation. — Ben Church, CNN Money, 30 May 2026

The crude oil tanker Idemitsu Maru sails through Ise Bay near Chita City in Aichi Prefecture, Japan, May 25, 2026, after becoming the first crude tanker bound for Japan to transit the Strait of Hormuz during the Iran war. — Mark Osborne, CBS News, 28 May 2026

The neutrino is a nearly weightless particle that sails through matter like a phantasm. — Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 8 May 2026

Noun

The sailing season generally runs from early May through late October, weather permitting, and sunset sails and weekends are the first to fill, so booking about two weeks in advance is a good idea. — Jessica Chapel, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Aug. 2026

Each cutter was required to be built domestically, and each was equipped with specific weapons and equipment, down to the same number of inches of cloth for its sails. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 July 2026

For a more personalized experience, Bufflehead Sailing Charters offers private sails ranging from one to eight hours, along with special sunset cruises and lobster bake experiences. — Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 21 July 2026

Hybrid propulsion is also an option, with the sails working with one engine while the other is lifted out of the water to eliminate drag. — Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 16 July 2026

Dream and Wish also head to Southampton for three‑ and four‑night sails to Belgium, Spain or the Netherlands, while the smaller Wonder and Magic spend November to April making quick runs to Baja from San Diego and the Yucatan from Galveston. — David Dickstein, Oc Register, 15 July 2026

The actors also learned other ways to work the ship, including casting sails, so Nolan and cinematographer Hoyte van Hoytema could just shoot them working as if making a documentary. — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 14 July 2026

In New York, tall ships, with their masts, rigging and white sails outlined against a blue sky, made a procession around the Statue of Liberty and up the Hudson River. — Steven Sloan, Los Angeles Times, 5 July 2026

Juan Soto was thrown out trying to stretch a single into a double, something that usually might take the wind out of the sails early, but Bo Bichette came through with a single to score Lindor. — Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 5 July 2026