sailing

1 of 2

noun

sail·​ing ˈsā-liŋ How to pronounce sailing (audio)
Synonyms of sailingnext
1
a
: the technical skill of managing a ship : navigation
b
: the method of determining the course to be followed to reach a given point
2
a
: the sport of handling or riding in a sailboat
b
: a departure from a port

sailing

2 of 2

present participle of sail entry 2

Examples of sailing in a Sentence

Noun They're going sailing next week.
Recent Examples on the Web
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Noun
Denali has become a centerpiece of those land-and-sea itineraries, with cruise passengers typically spending a few nights at the lodge before or after sailing. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Oct. 2026 Select sailings run throughout the festive season, including a seven-night Bridgetown-to-Saint John’s voyage offering an intimate New Year’s celebration at a private resort in Nevis. — Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 21 Oct. 2026 The trials included formation sailing and emergency responses to simulated machinery failures. — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 20 Oct. 2026 Maritime intelligence company Windward AI counted just six visible Hormuz transits on Wednesday, with two flowing inbound and another four sailing outbound. — Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sailing

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of sailing was before the 12th century

Phrases Containing sailing

Rhymes for sailing

See All Rhymes for sailing

Browse Nearby Words

sail hook
sailing
sailing boat
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Cite this Entry

“Sailing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sailing. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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