sailing

[sey-ling]

noun

1. the activity of a person or thing that sails.

2. the departure of a ship from port.

   The cruise line offers sailings every other day.

3. Navigation.,  any of various methods for determining courses and distances by means of charts or with reference to longitudes and latitudes, rhumb lines, great circles, etc.

sailing

/ ˈseɪlɪŋ /

noun

1. the practice, art, or technique of sailing a vessel

2. a method of navigating a vessel

   rhumb-line sailing

3. an instance of a vessel's leaving a port

   scheduled for a midnight sailing

Other Word Forms

• well-sailing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of sailing¹

before 900; Middle English seiling, Old English seglung. See sail, -ing ¹

Example Sentences

He waited, not moving much for five minutes, when another traveler left the Clear lane and headed for TSA PreCheck, sailing through.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

“I did not make them well when I started sailing 30 years ago, and once or twice I got caught in very, very bad weather doing very stupid things.”

Read more on Barron's

However, roses on my birthday, coinciding with the anniversary of our infamous sailing date, and our exchanges of “I love you,” did endear him to me.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Last week, David Adler posted what he said would be his final communication from aboard a boat sailing toward Gaza carrying medical supplies, food and other aid.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

It has not all been plain sailing, of course, since Howe's appointment or the takeover a few weeks prior.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• escape 
• evacuation 
• exit 
• exodus 
• flight 
• passage 
• removal 
• retirement 
• retreat 
• separation 
• takeoff 
• walkout 
• withdrawal