sail

American  

[seyl] / seɪl /

noun

1. an area of canvas or other fabric extended to the wind in such a way as to transmit the force of the wind to an assemblage of spars and rigging mounted firmly on a hull, raft, iceboat, etc., so as to drive it along.

2. some similar piece or apparatus, as the part of an arm that catches the wind on a windmill.

3. a voyage or excursion, especially in a sailing vessel.

   They went for a sail around the island.

4. a sailing vessel or ship.

5. sailing vessels collectively.

   The fleet numbered 30 sail.

6. sails for a vessel or vessels collectively.

7. Astronomy. Sail, the constellation Vela.

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verb (used without object)

1. to move along or travel over water.

   steamships sailing to Lisbon.

2. to manage a sailboat, especially for sport.

3. to begin a journey by water.

   We are sailing at dawn.

4. to move along in a manner suggestive of a sailing vessel.

   caravans sailing along.

5. to move along in a stately, effortless way.

   to sail into a room.

verb (used with object)

1. to sail upon, over, or through.

   to sail the seven seas.

2. to navigate (a vessel).

verb phrase

1. sail in / into

   1. to go vigorously into action; begin to act; attack.

   2. to attack verbally.

      He would sail into his staff when work was going badly.

idioms

1. set sail, to start a sea voyage.

   We set sail at midnight for Nantucket.

2. in sail, with the sails set.

3. make sail,

   1. to set the sail or sails of a boat or increase the amount of sail already set.

   2. to set out on a voyage.

      Make sail for the Leeward Islands.

4. under sail, with sails set; in motion; sailing.

   It was good to be under sail in the brisk wind and under the warm sun.

5. trim one's sails, to cut expenses; economize.

   We're going to have to trim our sails if we stay in business.

sail British  

/ seɪl /

noun

1. an area of fabric, usually Terylene or nylon (formerly canvas), with fittings for holding it in any suitable position to catch the wind, used for propelling certain kinds of vessels, esp over water

2. a voyage on such a vessel

   a sail down the river

3. a vessel with sails or such vessels collectively

   to travel by sail

   we raised seven sail in the northeast

4. a ship's sails collectively

5. something resembling a sail in shape, position, or function, such as the part of a windmill that is turned by the wind or the part of a Portuguese man-of-war that projects above the water

6. the conning tower of a submarine

7. having the sail set

8. 1. to run up the sail or to run up more sail

   2. to begin a voyage

9. 1. to embark on a voyage by ship

   2. to hoist sail

10. 1. with sail hoisted

    2. under way

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verb

1. to travel in a boat or ship

   we sailed to Le Havre

2. to begin a voyage; set sail

   we sail at 5 o'clock

3. (of a vessel) to move over the water

   the liner is sailing to the Caribbean

4. (tr) to manoeuvre or navigate a vessel

   he sailed the schooner up the channel

5. (tr) to sail over

   she sailed the Atlantic single-handed

6. to move fast or effortlessly

   we sailed through customs

   the ball sailed over the fence

7. to move along smoothly; glide

8. informal

   1. to begin (something) with vigour

   2. to make an attack (on) violently with words or physical force

sail More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing sail

• (sail under) false colors
• plain sailing
• set sail
• smooth sailing
• take the wind out of one's sails
• trim one's sails

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Other Word Forms

• sailable adjective
• sailless adjective
• unsailable adjective
• unsailed adjective

Etymology

Origin of sail

First recorded before 900; (noun) Middle English sail(e), seille, Old English segl; cognate with German Segel, Old Norse segl; (verb) Middle English seillen, saylen, Old English siglan, seglian; cognate with Dutch zeilen, Old Norse sigla

Explanation

A sail is the big piece of cloth attached to a mast that propels a sailboat through the water by catching the wind. Part of learning to sail a boat is learning how to use the sails. Most sailboats have two sails, the mainsail and the jib or headsail on the front of the boat. When you sail, you pilot the boat, or simply ride on it — you can also say you go for a sail. Additionally, the verb sail is used when something seems to float on the air: "The kite sails high in the blue sky." You "sail through" something when it's very easy and quick.

Example Sentences

Ships given permission to pass sail to the north of the regular channel through a corridor between Iran’s Qeshm and Larak islands.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 11, 2026

Ships that are allowed to pass through the strait sail a corridor between Iran’s Qeshm and Larak islands; some reports say that’s to avoid mines placed in the water by Iran.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 9, 2026

And so the plot tracks Tereza’s episodic adventures on the run, escaping to sail down the river in search of a working airplane.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2026

When Titanic departed on her doomed maiden voyage in April 1912 she was the largest, most luxurious and most technically advanced ship ever to sail the seas.

From BBC • Mar. 31, 2026

Gingersnipes emerged with a long, flat stick, and they set sail across the sludgy pond.

From "The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest" by Aubrey Hartman

Related Words

• cross
• cruise
• drift
• float
• fly
• leave
• move
• navigate
• reach
• run
• shoot
• skim
• soar
• steer
• sweep