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

Nelson’s mind quickly sails from cold floor-pragmatics to high theory. — Literary Hub, 13 Aug. 2026

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

Noun

To keep the arrays from catching the wind like sails, engineers mount the solar panels at much flatter tilt angles than those used in typical ground installations. — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 21 Aug. 2026

However, executive producer Anthony King has lowered the sails on that idea. — Peter White, Deadline, 21 Aug. 2026

Designed for media company IAC, the 10-story building was shaped to evoke the billowing sails of a ship. — Maya Chawla, Architectural Digest, 19 Aug. 2026

The yacht carries a wardrobe of jibs, staysails, gaff main and gaff foresail, and topmast and fisherman staysails, setting eight sails in her full racing configuration. — Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 13 Aug. 2026

Have your own postcard worthy memory with Smile N’ Wave, a charter company that offers sails that specialize in everything from snorkeling to swimming to dolphin chasing from their shaded 31-foot catamaran. — Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 12 Aug. 2026

The sails will allow the ship to harness wind power when conditions are favorable, reducing fuel consumption. — Chrissie McClatchie, Travel + Leisure, 4 Aug. 2026

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