sails 1 of 2

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
Royal Caribbean sails itineraries to 270-plus destinations in 60-plus countries on six continents. Jessica Peralta, Oc Register, 19 Sep. 2025 Researchers know about the wrecks because reporting any commercial ship that sails on the lakes is required; from the early 19th century to the 20th century, about 40,000 ships sailed the Great Lakes, Baillod said. Taylor Nicioli, CNN Money, 17 Sep. 2025 Disney Cruise Line Disney sails Halloween on the High Seas voyages in September and October, where passengers will find special decor – including a magical Halloween tree – themed desserts and drinks and other festive activities. Nathan Diller, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2025 Aqua Blu, a former yacht of the Campari family reimagined as a 30-cabin expedition yacht, sails week-long routes from Bali through Komodo and up to Raja Ampat. Lela London, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2025 The 210-passenger Pearl Mist is a slightly larger, more modern ship that sails the lakes exclusively all summer. Jeri Clausing, AFAR Media, 22 Aug. 2025 The former typically sails out of Port Canaveral in Orlando, according to the Carnival Cruise Lines’ website, while the latter has routes out of Jacksonville, Florida. Addy Bink, The Hill, 17 Aug. 2025 Like the Icon of the Seas, which currently sails out of Miami, Star of the Seas is organized into eight neighborhoods each designed for different activities and age groups. Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 9 Aug. 2025 The vessel currently sails under the Indonesian flag, based on MarineTraffic vessel information. Lori Ann Larocco, CNBC, 6 Aug. 2025
Noun
Light sails and giant lasers might get you some of the way there. Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 22 Oct. 2025 Pure Amazon sails three-, four-, and seven-night itineraries from Nauta, which is about an hour-and-a-half drive from the airport in Iquitos. Jeri Clausing, AFAR Media, 21 Oct. 2025 As the ball sails over his head, a simple knock down from Iliman Ndiaye allowed Idrissa Gueye to finish first time. Mark Carey, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025 Celia Imrie has put some wind in the sails of The Celebrity Traitors’ viewing figures. Jake Kanter, Deadline, 16 Oct. 2025 Still, Swift’s straight sales edged Adele’s by only about 100,000, and Adele didn’t have the wind of myriad vinyl variants in her sales sails. Eric Renner Brown, Billboard, 14 Oct. 2025 The Yankees responded with a Giancarlo Stanton two-out single in the bottom of the first inning, but the Blue Jays took the wind out of any Yankees sails in the top of the third. Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 8 Oct. 2025 Lawrence and Jacksonville finding a way to pull out the win takes the sails out of the Chiefs following their two straight wins coming into Week 5. Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Oct. 2025 Anemoi revealed that the sails were transported by barge and lifted directly onto the deck. Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 1 Oct. 2025
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
  • Reflect honestly about your longings as Mercury flows with Jupiter and Saturn.
    USA TODAY, USA Today, 25 Oct. 2025
  • During a stay here in one of the hotel’s 208 rooms (including 12 suites), guests will be able to enjoy luxe linens, Japanese-style soaking tubs, and plenty of natural light that flows in through floor-to-ceiling windows.
    Mae Hamilton, Travel + Leisure, 24 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The soft, breathable cotton blend fabric floats away from the body and can be worn both over a shirt and under a jacket.
    Sophie Dodd, Travel + Leisure, 26 Oct. 2025
  • Whereas therapy looks backward to heal, and self-help often floats in abstraction, Space of mind looks forward, quantifying how identity, beliefs, and emotions evolve over time.
    Lyssanoel Frater, USA Today, 21 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • This is especially important for early or late season voyages.
    Ashton Palmer, Travel + Leisure, 24 Oct. 2025
  • As the Spanish hold over the Caribbean Sea weakened in the 1560s, English voyages to the region increased.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 23 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Mirage ferries Noah to the Autobots' rendezvous point, much to Optimus Prime's dismay.
    Rendy Jones August 27, EW.com, 27 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • The 9- and 14-day cruises explore cities like Syracuse, New York; Cleveland, Ohio; and Milwaukee, Wisconsin; and mark the first Great Lakes cruises for the company.
    Katie Nadworny, Travel + Leisure, 30 Sep. 2025
  • The Boats’ Itineraries In the South In Provence, the six cabin Napoléon cruises the Rhône from Tain L’Hermitage to Avignon, stopping for a truffle excursion in Grignan, to allow guests to explore local markets or to bicycle through lavender fields.
    Laurie Werner, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Europe’s central bank is expected to hold rates steady in October as inflation hovers around its 2% target.
    Tasmin Lockwood, CNBC, 24 Oct. 2025
  • Though hiring has slowed, the nation's unemployment rate still hovers at a historically low level.
    Max Zahn, ABC News, 24 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Between songs, the film drifts into dreamlike Parisian vignettes Aguilera contemplates love, motherhood, reinvention, and her career’s artistry.
    Anthony D'Alessandro, Deadline, 15 Oct. 2025
  • Occasionally, though — in Red Alert especially — the camera drifts over to a shot of Gaza, shining high-rises looming in the distance.
    Kathryn VanArendonk, Vulture, 14 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Sails.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sails. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.

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