Sail Definition and Meaning
By Maham Liaqat & Fiza Rafique — Published on November 14, 2025
Sail refers to a piece of fabric used to catch the wind and propel a boat, ship, or other vessels. e.g., They raised the sail as the wind picked up, and the boat sped away.
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Sail Definitions
To travel in a boat or ship using sails or engine power.
We plan to sail around the Mediterranean next summer.
To navigate or steer a boat on water.
She learned how to sail from her grandfather.
To manage a sailing vessel.
He can sail a yacht skillfully.
To start a trip by sea.
The expedition will sail from the northern coast.
To proceed swiftly and easily, often metaphorically.
She sailed through the exam with ease.
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A piece of fabric sewn together and fitted to the spars and rigging of a vessel so as to convert the force of the wind into forward motion of the vessel.
The sails of a ship or boat.
A narrow fairwater supporting the bridge of a submarine.
Pl. sail or sails Nautical A sailing vessel.
(Nautical) A trip or voyage in a sailing craft.
Something, such as the blade of a windmill, that resembles a sail in form or function.
To move across the surface of water, especially by means of a sailing vessel.
To travel by water in a vessel.
To start out on such a voyage or journey
Tomorrow we sail for the islands.
To operate a sailing craft, especially for sport.
To move along or progress smoothly or effortlessly
Sailed into the room five minutes late.
Sailed through the exam.
Sailed through the red light.
To move along through the air
The ball sailed into the stands.
To navigate or manage (a vessel).
To voyage upon or across
Sail the Pacific.
(nautical) A piece of fabric attached to a boat and arranged such that it causes the wind to drive the boat along. The sail may be attached to the boat via a combination of mast, spars and ropes.
The concept of a sail or sails, as if a substance.
Take in sail: a storm is coming.
(uncountable) The power harnessed by a sail or sails, or the use of this power for travel or transport.
A trip in a boat, especially a sailboat.
Let's go for a sail.
A sailing vessel; a vessel of any kind; a craft.
Twenty sail were in sight.
(nautical) The conning tower of a submarine.
The blade of a windmill.
A tower-like structure found on the dorsal (topside) surface of submarines.
The floating organ of siphonophores, such as the Portuguese man-of-war.
(fishing) A sailfish.
We caught three sails today.
(paleontology) an outward projection of the spine, occurring in certain dinosaurs and synapsids
Anything resembling a sail, such as a wing.
To be impelled or driven forward by the action of wind upon sails, as a ship on water; to be impelled on a body of water by steam or other power.
To move through or on the water; to swim, as a fish or a waterfowl.
To ride in a boat, especially a sailboat.
(intransitive) To set sail; to begin a voyage.
We sail for Australia tomorrow.
To move briskly and gracefully through the air.
(intransitive) To move briskly but sedately.
The duchess sailed haughtily out of the room.
To deal out (cards) from a distance by impelling them across a surface.
An extent of canvas or other fabric by means of which the wind is made serviceable as a power for propelling vessels through the water.
Behoves him now both sail and oar.
Anything resembling a sail, or regarded as a sail.
A wing; a van.
Like an eagle soaringTo weather his broad sails.
The extended surface of the arm of a windmill.
A sailing vessel; a vessel of any kind; a craft.
A passage by a sailing vessel; a journey or excursion upon the water.
To be impelled or driven forward by the action of wind upon sails, as a ship on water; to be impelled on a body of water by the action of steam or other power.
To move through or on the water; to swim, as a fish or a water fowl.
To be conveyed in a vessel on water; to pass by water; as, they sailed from London to Canton.
To set sail; to begin a voyage.
To move smoothly through the air; to glide through the air without apparent exertion, as a bird.
As is a winged messenger of heaven, . . .When he bestrides the lazy pacing clouds,And sails upon the bosom of the air.
To pass or move upon, as in a ship, by means of sails; hence, to move or journey upon (the water) by means of steam or other force.
A thousand ships were manned to sail the sea.
To fly through; to glide or move smoothly through.
Sublime she sailsThe aërial space, and mounts the wingèd gales.
To direct or manage the motion of, as a vessel; as, to sail one's own ship.
A large piece of fabric (as canvas) by means of which wind is used to propel a sailing vessel
An ocean trip taken for pleasure
Traverse or travel by ship on (a body of water);
We sailed the Atlantic
He sailed the Pacific all alone
Move with sweeping, effortless, gliding motions;
The diva swept into the room
Shreds of paper sailed through the air
The searchlights swept across the sky
Travel in a boat propelled by wind;
I love sailing, especially on the open sea
Travel by boat on a boat propelled by wind or by other means;
The QE2 will sail to Southampton tomorrow
To glide or move smoothly, like a ship or bird.
The eagle sailed through the sky, scanning the ground below.
To set out on a voyage by water.
The crew was excited to sail at dawn.
To embark on a journey, especially at sea.
They will sail for the new world tomorrow.
To travel by watercraft in a specified direction.
The ferry sails to the island daily.
To move effortlessly or without obstruction.
After the initial difficulties, the project began to sail smoothly.
Sail Snonyms
Voyage
To travel over water in a long journey.
They voyaged across the Atlantic.
Float
To move slowly on water or in the air.
The boat floated downstream with the current.
Skim
To move lightly and quickly over a surface.
The stones skimmed across the water.
Cruise
To travel at a moderate speed, especially by ship.
They cruised along the coast for their anniversary.
Navigate
To plan and direct the route or course of a ship or other vehicle.
He navigated the boat through the narrow channels.
Drift
To be carried along by currents of water or air.
The raft drifted in the open sea for days.
Gliding
Moving in a smooth, controlled way through air or water.
The swans were gliding elegantly on the lake.
Steam
To travel in a steam-powered boat.
The old steamer still steams up the river.
Embark
To begin a journey, especially on a ship.
They embarked on a three-week cruise to Alaska.
Pilot
To steer or control the course of a ship or aircraft.
She piloted the ship safely into harbor.
Sail Idioms & Phrases
Set sail
To begin a voyage at sea.
They set sail under the clear blue sky.
Sail through
To accomplish something with little effort.
He sailed through the interview without a hitch.
Sail under false colors
To behave deceptively; to misrepresent oneself.
The con artist sailed under false colors to swindle the tourists.
Sail into
To attack or criticize vigorously.
The boss sailed into him for missing the deadline.
Sail close to the wind
To act just within the limits of what is legal or acceptable.
His business practices often sail close to the wind.
Full sail
Operating at maximum capacity or speed.
With all plans in place, the project went ahead at full sail.
Sail against the wind
To go against the prevailing trend or opinion.
She's sailing against the wind by advocating for the unpopular law.
Sail Example Sentences
The sailor knew exactly when to sail and when to anchor.
She watched the ships sail past from the harbor.
Every year, they sail to a different tropical island.
The story of his voyage inspired others to learn to sail.
On weekends, they would sail down the river.
He decided to sail the Pacific as part of his world trip.
They learned to sail during their summer at the lake.
They had to repair the sail before they could set out again.
Her dream was to sail around the world.
Common Curiosities
What is a stressed syllable in sail?
The entire word sail is stressed, as it is only one syllable.
How is sail used in a sentence?
Sail can be used to describe the action of moving or traveling in a boat equipped with sails.
What is the pronunciation of sail?
Sail is pronounced as /seɪl/.
What is the root word of sail?
The root word of sail is the Old English "segel".
Why is it called sail?
Sail comes from the Old English word "segel", meaning a sheet of fabric used to catch the wind.
What is another term for sail?
Another term for sail can be cruise, when used as a verb.
How many syllables are in sail?
Sail has one syllable.
How do we divide sail into syllables?
Sail is a single-syllable word, so it is not divided further.
What is the first form of sail?
The first form of sail is 'sail'.
What part of speech is sail?
Sail can be a noun or a verb, depending on the usage.
What is the plural form of sail?
The plural form of sail is 'sails'.
Is sail an adverb?
No, sail is not an adverb.
What is the second form of sail?
The second form of sail is 'sailed'.
Is sail a collective noun?
No, sail is not a collective noun.
What is the verb form of sail?
Sail itself is the base form of the verb.
Is sail a noun or adjective?
Sail can be a noun or a verb.
Is the sail term a metaphor?
Sail can be used metaphorically in phrases like "sailing through life".
What is the third form of sail?
The third form of sail is 'sailed'.
Is sail a countable noun?
Yes, as a noun, sail is countable.
Is the word sail imperative?
Sail can be used in the imperative form in commands.
Is the word “sail” a Direct object or an Indirect object?
As a verb, sail does not function as an object. As a noun, it can be a direct object.
Which vowel is used before sail?
This depends on the context; for example, "a sail" or "an enormous sail".
Which article is used with sail?
The definite article "the" or the indefinite article "a" can be used with sail, depending on context.
Is sail a negative or positive word?
Sail is a neutral word; it is neither inherently negative nor positive.
Is the word sail Gerund?
Yes, the gerund form of sail is sailing.
Which preposition is used with sail?
Prepositions commonly used with sail include "on", "by", and "under".
What is the singular form of sail?
The singular form of sail is 'sail'.
What is the opposite of sail?
The opposite of sail could be dock or anchor.
Is sail an abstract noun?
No, sail as a noun refers to a concrete object.
Is sail a vowel or consonant?
Sail starts with a consonant.
Which determiner is used with sail?
Determiners like "a", "the", or "every" can be used with sail.
Which conjunction is used with sail?
Conjunctions like "and" or "but" can be used depending on the sentence.
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Written by
Maham Liaqat
Co-written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
