1
as in cruising
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
2
as in flowing
to move or proceed smoothly and readily
sailed through the latest assignment
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in floating
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 sailing
Lisa Rozner,
CBS News,
28 June 2026
The Deliver, sailing under the flag of Cameroon, had departed from the Russian port of Primorsk, authorities said.
—
Illia Novikov,
Los Angeles Times,
25 June 2026
Carnival Jubilee Western Caribbean Cruises Carnival Jubilee is one of the larger ships sailing from Galveston, carrying over 6,500 passengers at maximum capacity.
—
Megan Dubois,
Southern Living,
25 June 2026
Here, some of the finest lines for sailing solo without feeling alone.
—
Janice Wald Henderson,
Condé Nast Traveler,
24 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for sailing
Verb
Sail4th 250 kicks off Friday, featuring 40 vessels representing 40 nations sailing from the Verrazzano Bridge all the way north to the George Washington Bridge and docking at piers on 15 miles of waterfront across the city.
—
Lisa Rozner,
CBS News,
28 June 2026
The Deliver, sailing under the flag of Cameroon, had departed from the Russian port of Primorsk, authorities said.
—
Illia Novikov,
Los Angeles Times,
25 June 2026
Carnival Jubilee Western Caribbean Cruises Carnival Jubilee is one of the larger ships sailing from Galveston, carrying over 6,500 passengers at maximum capacity.
—
Megan Dubois,
Southern Living,
25 June 2026
Here, some of the finest lines for sailing solo without feeling alone.
—
Janice Wald Henderson,
Condé Nast Traveler,
24 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for sailing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sailing
Adjective
-
He-Man was now a jolly, quip-ready hero, whose best friends were scaredy-cat Cringer (a green-and-yellow tiger who transformed into Battle Cat), and an annoying, hovering magician called Orko.
-
This is surprising for something that is supposed to require less hovering, especially if the host is out of hearing range of the device's alerts.
Verb
-
Senegal were cruising, courtesy of goals from Habib Diarra and Ismaila Sarr.
-
Among the benefits of cruising is the fact that, for many Americans, getting to a ship doesn’t necessarily mean taking a flight.
Verb
-
There's a full rainbow of primal prints to explore, like this flowing calf-print caftan from Moroccan designer Fadila El Gadi.
-
Venture funding is also flowing into European defense technology, such as drones and autonomous systems.
Verb
-
But photos showed that the blue sealant had started to peel away, leaving chunks floating on the surface, while algae growth turned the water green.
-
The character famously filmed herself floating in the pool and living her best Southern California sorority girl life.
Adjective
-
In addition, the action includes top-tier spider combat and awesome web-slinging and web-gliding traversal abilities.
Verb
-
Severe storms cause widespread damage in Wisconsin The boating incident occurred as severe thunderstorms moved across southern Wisconsin, triggering widespread damage in Walworth County.
-
Deadly boating tragedies are common in the central African country, where late-night travels and overcrowded vessels are often blamed.
Verb
-
Without it, the experience risks drifting into the broad category of pretty resort dinner.
-
People often watch them with comments from other viewers drifting across their screens.
Verb
-
Her three kids could be seen posing on the beach, getting ready to go swimming.
-
Then much farther north, a beach was closed to swimming in Maine after a report of two sharks near Reid State Park.
Cite this Entry
“Sailing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sailing. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
