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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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
Two examples of these itineraries are Celebrity’s transatlantic sailing from Orlando, Florida, to Southampton, England (by way of Bermuda and Lisbon), and this 23-day transpacific journey aboard Windstar Cruises, which sails from Tokyo to Vancouver. Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 21 Feb. 2026 The company sails out of 22 ports across the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. Lorraine Mirabella, Baltimore Sun, 19 Feb. 2026 Star Princess sails around the Caribbean and Alaska, both of which are exceptional choices for romantic sailings. Megan Dubois, USA Today, 14 Feb. 2026 The story is a post-apocalyptic tale in which a convict, played by Fischbach, sails an ocean of blood in a submarine in order to search for resources and discovers increasingly terrifying secrets. William Earl, Variety, 30 Jan. 2026 The Star Breeze sails year-round in French Polynesia, with voyages departing almost every week, according to the cruise line’s website. Natalia Senanayake, PEOPLE, 21 Jan. 2026 Orgon’s only ally is his domineering parade float of a mother, Madame Pernelle (the Bianca del Rio), who sails onto the stage in high dudgeon at the top of the play. Sara Holdren, Vulture, 17 Dec. 2025 Jackson sails a pass to tight end Blake Smith on second down, setting up third-and-5. Caleb Yum, Austin American Statesman, 29 Nov. 2025 The voyage takes off from Miami, travels to Great Stirrup Cay in the Bahamas then sails back to Miami. Katie Bain, Billboard, 27 Oct. 2025
Noun
Kopitar was among the many veterans who likely used the break to heal and rest, hopefully putting wind in their sails for the final third of the campaign. Andrew Knoll, Daily News, 24 Feb. 2026 The cilia on her sails begin beating out of sync. Literary Hub, 23 Feb. 2026 Practical planning steadies curiosity as the Moon sails into your 9th House of Travel, turning big ideas into progress without overcomplicating details. Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 21 Feb. 2026 French skier Laura Gauche sails against the backdrop of the Dolomites on her way to the finish line in the Women’s Team Combined Slalom. Staff Photographer, Los Angeles Times, 20 Feb. 2026 After its attention-grabbing opening, Queen at Sea sails into more familiar territory, of the kind chartered by Gaspar Noé in Vortex and, more pertinently, Michael Haneke in Love. Damon Wise, Deadline, 19 Feb. 2026 The lineage is inseparable from the Rothschild family and began with The Gitana, a steel steamboat commissioned by Baroness Julie de Rothschild at a time when sails still ruled the seas. Helen Iatrou, Robb Report, 15 Feb. 2026 Silversea sails all over the world, but one region that offers romance in abundance is French Polynesia and the Pacific. Megan Dubois, USA Today, 14 Feb. 2026 City officials plan to get feedback from residents about the color of the shade sails, Commissioner Ben Sorensen said. Susannah Bryan, Sun Sentinel, 13 Feb. 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
  • Oil heats up and flows quickly in modern cars, but giving your vehicle ample time to warm up before driving could save you serious engine strain.
    Charles Singh, USA Today, 27 Feb. 2026
  • Welcome to the new Tokyo Tuna, where your dinner flows your way.
    Connie Ogle Updated February 27, Miami Herald, 27 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • The Garden District is one of those areas that floats between yesterday and tomorrow, where Greek- and Italianate-style homes adorned with ornate cast iron and sweeping verandas provide shade for people watching and respite from the commercial center.
    Kristin Braswell, Travel + Leisure, 27 Feb. 2026
  • But even with hundreds of objects, the show barely floats the question of how that chemistry operated, let alone explore it.
    Justin Davidson, Curbed, 26 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • At least three gas tankers going to or from Qatar had paused voyages following the latest attacks in the region, according to ship-tracking data.
    Dallas Morning News, Dallas Morning News, 28 Feb. 2026
  • The full amount varies based on the length of your cruise, starting with $50 for voyages of six days or less.
    Madison Flager, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • The whippet-fast lift system got even more efficient this season with the introduction of the Explorer Gondola, the world’s speediest 10-person gondola that ferries skiers from base to peak on heated seats.
    Amy Tara Koch, Robb Report, 29 Jan. 2026
  • In late November, the Caspian Pipeline Consortium, which ferries 80% of all Kazakh oil supplies from Kazakhstan to the Black Sea, said it had been attacked twice in four days.
    Vasco Cotovio, CNN Money, 11 Dec. 2025
Verb
  • Royal Caribbean Best for adventurous couples cruises Couples cruises on Royal Caribbean are affordable, packed with fun things to do on board, and sail to romantic destinations.
    Megan duBois, USA Today, 14 Feb. 2026
  • The seven-night Alaska Dawes Glacier itinerary on Celebrity Edge cruises round-trip from Seattle and visits Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway, and Victoria, sailing through the scenic Endicott Arm and Inside Passage along the way.
    Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 10 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • That door still hovers in my mind, the dark wood; dark, too, around the edges where light usually shone.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 24 Feb. 2026
  • Today, that number hovers around 500.
    Cerys Davies, Los Angeles Times, 23 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Moreover, much of the air pollution across the region drifts northward from the Chicago area.
    Madeline Heim, jsonline.com, 20 Feb. 2026
  • Once released, the robot’s shot is fate, untouched by the vigorous, broom-flailing choreography that so often determines whether a stone bites the button or drifts wide.
    IEEE Spectrum, IEEE Spectrum, 18 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Sails.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sails. Accessed 4 Mar. 2026.

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