sails 1 of 2

present tense third-person singular of sail
1
as in boats
to travel on water in a vessel I can't sail when there's any breeze at all because I get seasick easily

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2
3
as in floats
to rest or move along the surface of a liquid or in the air a leaf sailed by, carried by the breeze

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

sails

2 of 2

noun

plural of sail
as in voyages
a journey over water in a vessel we went for a brief sail on the bay to relax

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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 sails
Verb
Disney Cruise Line Disney sails Halloween on the High Seas voyages in September and October, where passengers will find special decor – including a magical Halloween tree – themed desserts and drinks and other festive activities. Nathan Diller, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2025 Aqua Blu, a former yacht of the Campari family reimagined as a 30-cabin expedition yacht, sails week-long routes from Bali through Komodo and up to Raja Ampat. Lela London, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2025 The 210-passenger Pearl Mist is a slightly larger, more modern ship that sails the lakes exclusively all summer. Jeri Clausing, AFAR Media, 22 Aug. 2025 The former typically sails out of Port Canaveral in Orlando, according to the Carnival Cruise Lines’ website, while the latter has routes out of Jacksonville, Florida. Addy Bink, The Hill, 17 Aug. 2025 Like the Icon of the Seas, which currently sails out of Miami, Star of the Seas is organized into eight neighborhoods each designed for different activities and age groups. Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 9 Aug. 2025 The vessel currently sails under the Indonesian flag, based on MarineTraffic vessel information. Lori Ann Larocco, CNBC, 6 Aug. 2025
Noun
Pipes are painted like tree trunks, flumes are supported by faux crumbling aqueducts, waterfalls gush through holes in the hulls of boats and sails hang overhead to protect from the searing sun. Caroline Reid, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025 Experts see little on the horizon that could take the wind out of gold's sails right now, with price forecasts holding firmly above $3,500 for the remainder of the year. Hugh Cameron, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Sep. 2025 Unwind Along the Coast Zanzibar, a Tanzanian archipelago off the coast of East Africa, tempts with spice tours, rooftop cocktails, and sunset dhow sails. Karin Jones, Travel + Leisure, 4 Sep. 2025 There are some rough retail quarters ahead — tariffs are taking a bite, and customers are expected to spend less on holiday shopping this year because everything is so expensive and the job market is starting to look quite bad — but Macy’s has some wind at its sails for the first time in years. Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 3 Sep. 2025 And two days later, with white sails billowing in the wind, roughly 75 massive ships will anchor in Boston Harbor. State House News Service, Boston Herald, 30 Aug. 2025 Several other dinosaur species also have sails. Hannah Peart, NBC news, 22 Aug. 2025 In one scene, the performers become a ship, using poles and a sheet to create the illusion of sails. Sheila Regan, Twin Cities, 22 Aug. 2025 Rascal Voyages’ founder Steve Ebsworth’s decision to forego masts and sails for larger guest accommodations may compromise its traditional look, but adds to Rascal’s ambiance as a floating villa. Julia Zaltzman, Robb Report, 22 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sails
Verb
  • Raft the Animas River Colorado’s world-famous whitewater includes the Animas River, which flows by Durango.
    Cu Fleshman, Travel + Leisure, 7 Sep. 2025
  • The water condenses on the glass and flows down a tube to emerge as fresh, drinkable water.
    Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 6 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Guests are encouraged to live fully in the space, where morning coffee brews in a Hay French press, poolside afternoons are spent on Oliver James floats, and alfresco dinners happen amid DWR’s Terassi outdoor teak furniture (all of which, naturally, is for sale).
    John Wogan, Robb Report, 6 Sep. 2025
  • Afterward, retreat to the spa’s relaxation lounge—where a glowing copper teardrop floats above cedar banquettes—while next door, the subterranean fitness center boasts Technogym gear and treadmills—all below the waterline.
    Lewis Nunn, Forbes.com, 6 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • For voyages that have three or more consecutive days at sea, children must be at least one year of age as of the sailing date.
    Amanda Eyre Ward, Travel + Leisure, 12 Sep. 2025
  • Here is a sampling of the voyages available in the region.
    Stefanie Waldek, AFAR Media, 12 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Mirage ferries Noah to the Autobots' rendezvous point, much to Optimus Prime's dismay.
    Rendy Jones August 27, EW.com, 27 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • The Boats’ Itineraries In the South In Provence, the six cabin Napoléon cruises the Rhône from Tain L’Hermitage to Avignon, stopping for a truffle excursion in Grignan, to allow guests to explore local markets or to bicycle through lavender fields.
    Laurie Werner, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2025
  • Powered by dual motors that provide up to 2,061GPH of suction, the V5 cruises the surface of your pool, sucking up leaves and other debris that normally needs to be removed with a net.
    PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 29 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Support for universal background checks usually hovers around 90 percent in public opinion polls.
    John J. Donohue, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Sep. 2025
  • Officially, the prison can hold just over a thousand inmates, though its population often hovers well below that.
    Walter Pavlo, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • But, as always, the talk drifts toward quarterbacks, that uniquely American job with uniquely American responsibilities.
    Seth Wickersham, The Atlantic, 8 Sep. 2025
  • Modern systems analyze patterns of active work, idle stretches and meeting length in real time, giving leaders a live feed of how productivity drifts through a day.
    Kolawole Samuel Adebayo, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Bear swims to the exit, and shakes off his wet fur.
    Rachael O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Sep. 2025
  • The halibut swims in a magenta consommé of dashi and beetroot.
    Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Sails.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sails. Accessed 14 Sep. 2025.

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