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
Pisces February 19 – March 20 Your pleasure cruise is setting sail today!—Tarot.com, Orlando Sentinel, 20 June 2024 Whenever conditions allow it, Le Ponant raises its 10,800-square feet of sails to harness the wind for propulsion—a figure the company puts at approximately 30 percent of all cruising time.—Chrissie McClatchie, Robb Report, 20 June 2024
Verb
In March, Cyprus began allowing aid ships to sail from its ports as part of international efforts to create a humanitarian aid route via sea toward Gaza.—Nadeen Ebrahim, CNN, 21 June 2024 The sixth of Royal’s Oasis-class ships and currently the second-largest ship in the world behind Miami’s Icon of the Seas, Utopia of the Seas will begin sailing three- and four-night Bahamas itineraries starting July 19.—Richard Tribou, Orlando Sentinel, 20 June 2024 See all Example Sentences for sail
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sail.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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)
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