sails 1 of 2

Definition of sailsnext
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

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2
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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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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 sails
Verb
The boat sails from Genoa in complete darkness, a precaution against air raids. Marcy Thompson, Scientific American, 16 Apr. 2026 The line sails year-round from Southern ports including Port Canaveral, Fort Lauderdale, Tampa, Galveston, and New Orleans. Linnea Bailey, Southern Living, 8 Apr. 2026 Most tanker movement in the key Strait of Hormuz, where roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil typically sails past Iran’s coastline, remains at a halt. Camila Gomez, The Orlando Sentinel, 31 Mar. 2026 Capasecca Yacht Another bespoke yachting experience, Capasecca — featuring four cabins that sleep up to eight guests — sails the Amalfi Coast, Capri, Ischia and Procida, backed by a family with generations of seafaring heritage. Elycia Rubin, HollywoodReporter, 24 Mar. 2026 In response, Iran has nearly halted traffic through the narrow Strait of Hormuz, where a fifth of the world’s oil typically sails from the Persian Gulf to customers worldwide. Stan Choe, Chicago Tribune, 16 Mar. 2026 Iran’s actions have effectively stopped cargo traffic through the narrow Strait of Hormuz, where a fifth of the world’s oil typically sails. Alex Veiga, Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2026 Much will depend on what happens with the Strait of Hormuz off Iran’s coast, where roughly a fifth of the world’s oil typically sails. Jeremy Tanner, The Hill, 7 Mar. 2026 Kate Stewart, who has carried the Texas offense tonight, sails a long double into center field to score pinch runner Adayah Wallace and now has three of the four Longhorn RBIs. Thomas Jones, Austin American Statesman, 6 Mar. 2026
Noun
Under normal circumstances, Republicans hold a comfortable majority and Warsh sails through. Phil Mattingly, CNN Money, 22 Apr. 2026 Ladera’s concierge can book more than two dozen off-site experiences like volcano tours, sunset sails, and snorkeling excursions. Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Apr. 2026 In the fall of 2024, Norsepower and Oldendorff Carriers jointly installed three 24 m × 4 m Norsepower rotor sails on board the 100,449 dwt bulk carrier Chinook Oldendorff (previously named Dietrich Oldendorff). Srishti Gupta, Interesting Engineering, 21 Apr. 2026 In another video, the boat's rigging appeared to be intact, but the sails were down. Colson Thayer, PEOPLE, 17 Apr. 2026 The new shade sails at Fort Lauderdale’s Tunnel Top Plaza looked pretty for 57 days — until one breezy day. Susannah Bryan, Sun Sentinel, 16 Apr. 2026 There is wind in the Taskmaster sails internationally. Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 14 Apr. 2026 Departing from Fort Lauderdale, sails stop in Nassau and Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point, Disney’s 900-acre private island in Eleuthera. Erin Gifford, Southern Living, 14 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sails
Verb
  • Shrimp boats bob in the harbor, American flags flutter from pastel porches and old oak trees draped in Spanish moss offer cool shade.
    Noreen Kompanik, Boston Herald, 19 Oct. 2025
  • Kennebunkport, Maine Lobster boats bob in the waves and beachcombers search for shells.
    Allison Tibaldi, USA Today, 20 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Carbios reported a financial loss of about $12 million, reflecting lower income from cash investments, interest flows with subsidiaries, interest paid on loans and a non-cash impairment provision.
    Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 17 Apr. 2026
  • The cost spiked due to a slowdown in traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a key artery for oil shipments through which one-fifth of the world's oil supply normally flows.
    Mary Cunningham, CBS News, 17 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • So Fasanara floats the cash, collects interest from the seller and directly assumes payment from the buying squad.
    Justin Birnbaum, Sportico.com, 16 Apr. 2026
  • Just as Earth has two very different poles — the Antarctic south pole, marked by a massive continent, and the icy north pole, whose ice floats atop the waters of the Arctic ocean — so too does Saturn.
    Big Think, Big Think, 15 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Over longer voyages with varying winds, the company expects the three rotors to cut the Chinook’s fuel use by roughly 10–15 percent compared to the baseline.
    Srishti Gupta, Interesting Engineering, 21 Apr. 2026
  • But not to be overlooked in 2026 are domestic cruises, with options including coastal sailings, river cruises, and voyages on the Great Lakes.
    Allison Tibaldi, USA Today, 18 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • The blockage of the strait, which normally ferries 20% of the world's oil, sent global energy prices soaring.
    Kevin Breuninger,Spencer Kimball, CNBC, 9 Apr. 2026
  • Iran has effectively halted trade traveling through the Strait of Hormuz, the maritime trade route that ferries roughly 20% of the world’s petroleum.
    Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 9 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Aledo cruises through district Aledo has faced more adversity than usual on a tough non-district slate.
    Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 Apr. 2026
  • Sometimes cruises in the spring and summer just call for breathable and breezy clothing, and skorts are a way to feel a bit dressed up while enjoying the comfort of shorts.
    Robin Raven, Travel + Leisure, 15 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • But the hunter success rate for the spring season hovers around 30 percent.
    Alex Robinson, Outdoor Life, 16 Apr. 2026
  • Around his head hovers a cluster of disembodied faces — creepy alt-Altmans, their expressions ranging from anger to open-mouthed woe.
    Cath Virginia, The Verge, 11 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Set clear expectations and timelines so nothing drifts.
    Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 21 Apr. 2026
  • Mesa de Frades The traditional, melancholic music drifts through the streets of Alfama each evening, and gives guests a deeper understanding of the heart of the city.
    Condé Nast Traveler, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Sails.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sails. Accessed 24 Apr. 2026.

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