Illustration of sail
- 1 flying jib
- 2 jib
- 3 forestaysail
- 4 foresail
- 5 fore gaff-topsail
- 6 main-topmast staysail
- 7 mainsail
- 8 main gaff-topsail
1
a(1)
: an extent of fabric (such as canvas) by means of which wind is used to propel a ship through water
(2)
: the sails of a ship
b
plural usually sail
: a ship equipped with sails
2
: an extent of fabric used in propelling a wind-driven vehicle (such as an iceboat)
3
: something that resembles a sail
especially
: a streamlined conning tower on a submarine
see also:
sailed; sailing; sails
1
a
: to travel on water in a ship
b
: yacht
2
a
: to travel on water by the action of wind upon sails or by other means
b
: to move or proceed easily, gracefully, nonchalantly, or without resistance
My father sailed through Harvard in three years …—
Roger Angell
Roger Angellthe bill sailed through the legislature
c
: to move through the air
the ball sailed over his head
3
: to begin a water voyage
sail with the tide
1
a
: to travel on (water) by means of motive power (such as sail)
sail the ocean
b
: to glide through
2
: to direct or manage the motion of
sail a ship
see also:
Examples of sail in a Sentence
Noun
Wind filled the sails and our journey had begun.
raising and lowering the ship's sails
a sail to San Francisco
Verb
We'll sail along the coast.
He sailed around the world on a luxury liner.
She sailed the Atlantic coastline.
She's sailing a boat in tomorrow's race.
The ship was sailed by a crew of 8.
I've been sailing since I was a child.
a ship that has sailed the seven seas
We sat on the shore watching boats sail by.
We sail at 9 a.m. tomorrow.
They sail for San Francisco next week.
Recent Examples on the Web
Chadd Scott, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026
The ship had an Arctic cruise setting sail from Keflavik, Iceland, on May 29.
—ABC News, 26 May 2026
Steve Fryer, Oc Register, 27 May 2026
Royer won the third set when Djokovic sailed a backhand long, triggering a roar of applause from the crowd.
—Adam Zagoria, Forbes.com, 27 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for sail
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
The sails will be exhibited from May 28 through July 30 on The North Wind schooner throughout the festival.
—Chadd Scott, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026
The ship had an Arctic cruise setting sail from Keflavik, Iceland, on May 29.
—ABC News, 26 May 2026
Verb
After a strikeout for the second out, Newport batter Noah Whitaker, with Horsley breaking for third base and Hatfield for second, was called out for batter’s interference on Ganesha catcher Dyson Grant’s throw to second base, a throw that sailed into center field.
—Steve Fryer, Oc Register, 27 May 2026
Royer won the third set when Djokovic sailed a backhand long, triggering a roar of applause from the crowd.
—Adam Zagoria, Forbes.com, 27 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for sail
Cite this Entry
“Sail.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sail. Accessed 30 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
sail
1 of 2 noun
ˈsā(ə)l 
as last element in compounds often səl
1
a
: a sheet of fabric (as canvas) used to catch wind to move a craft through water or over ice
b
: the sails of a ship
under full sail
c
plural usually sail
: a ship with sails
2
: something like a sail
3
: a journey by ship
sail
2 of 2 verb1
: to travel on water in a ship
sail the seas
2
: to travel by a sailing craft
3
: to move or glide along
sailed into the room
4
: to manage the sailing of
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