sail

1 of 2

noun

ˈsāl 

 as last element in compounds often  səl

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

4

: a passage by a sailing craft : cruise

sailed

ˈsāld 

adjective

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

sail

2 of 2

verb

sailed; sailing; sails

intransitive verb

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

sails through all sorts of contradictions

—Vicki Hearne

the 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

transitive verb

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

sailable

ˈsā-lə-bəl 

adjective

Phrases

under sail

: in motion with sails set

sail into

: to attack vigorously or sharply

sailed into me for being late

Synonyms

Noun

• crossing
• cruise
• passage
• voyage

Verb

• boat
• cruise
• ferry
• navigate
• ship (out)
• voyage

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

Noun

The affected vessel, which set sail on Tuesday on a seven-day cruise, was originally scheduled to visit islands in the Western Caribbean, including Jamaica and the Cayman Islands. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024

The Modena had set sail for England from Barbados just over a month before. —Sam Knight, The New Yorker, 4 Nov. 2024

Verb

The deployment of the Shandong beyond the first island chain might explain the increase in Chinese military aircraft activity in airspace south of Taiwan since Sunday, as the aircraft carrier sailed in nearby waters while leaving the South China Sea for the Philippine Sea. —David Faris, Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2024

On October 23, biologists put Moira on a boat, then sailed 8 miles out to sea. —Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English segl; akin to Old High German segal sail

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Phrases Containing sail

• at/in full sail
• make sail
• press of sail
• sail close to the wind
• sail into
• sail through
• set sail
• solar sail
• square sail
• studding sail

Kids 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 verb

1

: 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