Sail
noun
A piece of material extended on a mast to catch the wind and propel a boat, ship, or other vessel.
The ship set its sails and began to move out of the harbor.
Often appears as...
- set sail
- hoist the sail
verb
Travel in a boat with sails, especially as a sport or recreation.
We spent the summer sailing around the Greek islands.
Often appears as...
- sail around
- sail through
verb
Start a journey by sea.
The ship sails at dawn.
Often appears as...
- sail for
- sail from
verb
Move smoothly and rapidly or effortlessly.
She sailed through her exams with ease.
Often appears as...
- sail through the exams
- sail through the process
Usage tips
Approving
Idiomatic
noun
A piece of material extended on a mast to catch the wind and propel a boat, ship, or other vessel.
The ship set its sails and began to move out of the harbor.
Often appears as...
- set sail
- hoist the sail
verb
Travel in a boat with sails, especially as a sport or recreation.
We spent the summer sailing around the Greek islands.
Often appears as...
- sail around
- sail through
verb
Start a journey by sea.
The ship sails at dawn.
Often appears as...
- sail for
- sail from
verb
Move smoothly and rapidly or effortlessly.
She sailed through her exams with ease.
Often appears as...
- sail through the exams
- sail through the process
Usage tips
Approving
Idiomatic
Definition 1 of 4
Pro Tip 1/3Nautical Imagery
Used in contexts relating to the sea, sailing, or nautical adventures.
His room was decorated with sailboats and sails.
Pro Tip 2/3Not Just Ships
'Sail' can refer to any vessel's material, not exclusively traditional ships.
Even small dinghies have sails.
Pro Tip 3/3Metaphorical Use
Metaphorically, it can symbolize embarking on new ventures or adventures.
He raised his sail towards the uncharted business world.
Pro Tip 1/3Nautical Imagery
Used in contexts relating to the sea, sailing, or nautical adventures.
His room was decorated with sailboats and sails.
Pro Tip 2/3Not Just Ships
'Sail' can refer to any vessel's material, not exclusively traditional ships.
Even small dinghies have sails.
Pro Tip 3/3Metaphorical Use
Metaphorically, it can symbolize embarking on new ventures or adventures.
He raised his sail towards the uncharted business world.
Pro Tip 1/3Nautical Imagery
Used in contexts relating to the sea, sailing, or nautical adventures.
His room was decorated with sailboats and sails.
Pro Tip 2/3Not Just Ships
'Sail' can refer to any vessel's material, not exclusively traditional ships.
Even small dinghies have sails.
Pro Tip 3/3Metaphorical Use
Metaphorically, it can symbolize embarking on new ventures or adventures.
He raised his sail towards the uncharted business world.
Never forget "Sail"
Humans forget easily. That's why you should download WordUp: Smart reminders, word games, AI practice, and much more!
Video examples
Bigger Than T. rex:...
flat and spreading toes might have been webbed for swimming we think that these are primary facie evidence they're there they're really great clues for an aquatic lifestyle one of the most striking features in the skeleton is the big sail basically a series of long
Video examples
How much of human...
it tells us how humans sailed the seas, and what life was like millennia ago. So what exactly can we find? At shallow depths mingled in with modern-day items, we've discovered all sorts of ancient artifacts. This zone contains evidence of how our ancestors fished,
Video examples
How did Polynesian...
which were powered by sails and steered with a single large oar. Canoe building involved the whole community, bringing together the navigators, canoe builders, priests, chanters, and hula dancers. Navigators were keen observers of the natural world.
Video examples
Give yourself permission...
He now teaches a sail camp for children of fallen soldiers. He gave his life to his passion. His creativity was leadership, leading others, his bravery, to help others. That was something he felt called to do, and it gave back to him.
Video examples
How to write descriptivel...
and the sense of motion. It also plays with our ability to abstract and make complex associations. Look at the following sentence. "The world was ghost-quiet, except for the crack of sails and the burbling of water against hull."
Video examples
BBC Earth 50 Top Natural...
like a real-life Spider Woman she sprays strands of silk they one long continuous flow the threads fan out like a sail and drift on air currents blowing across the water every few seconds she crimps the
Video examples
The ocean needs more...
my dad took this picture back in nineteen five of me and my mom when I was six years old during my family's three and a half year round-the-world sailing trip
Video examples
Best Spider Moments PIPE...
like a real-life spider woman she sprays strands of silk in one long continuous flow the threads fan out like a sail and
Video examples
Real-Life Spider Shoots...
Like a real-life Spider-Woman, she sprays strands of silk in one long, continuous flow. The threads fan out like a sail
Video examples
The Deadly Portuguese...
it floats with the help of a gas-filled bladder topped by a vertical membrane with that serving as a sail it maintains
Video examples
Bigger Than T. rex:...
flat and spreading toes might have been webbed for swimming we think that these are primary facie evidence they're there they're really great clues for an aquatic lifestyle one of the most striking features in the skeleton is the big sail basically a series of long
Video examples
How much of human...
it tells us how humans sailed the seas, and what life was like millennia ago. So what exactly can we find? At shallow depths mingled in with modern-day items, we've discovered all sorts of ancient artifacts. This zone contains evidence of how our ancestors fished,
Video examples
How did Polynesian...
which were powered by sails and steered with a single large oar. Canoe building involved the whole community, bringing together the navigators, canoe builders, priests, chanters, and hula dancers. Navigators were keen observers of the natural world.
Video examples
Give yourself permission...
He now teaches a sail camp for children of fallen soldiers. He gave his life to his passion. His creativity was leadership, leading others, his bravery, to help others. That was something he felt called to do, and it gave back to him.
Video examples
How to write descriptivel...
and the sense of motion. It also plays with our ability to abstract and make complex associations. Look at the following sentence. "The world was ghost-quiet, except for the crack of sails and the burbling of water against hull."
Video examples
BBC Earth 50 Top Natural...
like a real-life Spider Woman she sprays strands of silk they one long continuous flow the threads fan out like a sail and drift on air currents blowing across the water every few seconds she crimps the
Video examples
The ocean needs more...
my dad took this picture back in nineteen five of me and my mom when I was six years old during my family's three and a half year round-the-world sailing trip
Video examples
Best Spider Moments PIPE...
like a real-life spider woman she sprays strands of silk in one long continuous flow the threads fan out like a sail and
Video examples
Real-Life Spider Shoots...
Like a real-life Spider-Woman, she sprays strands of silk in one long, continuous flow. The threads fan out like a sail
Video examples
The Deadly Portuguese...
it floats with the help of a gas-filled bladder topped by a vertical membrane with that serving as a sail it maintains
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Kevin Jonas
American Musician
Dani's family are great, and I'm really lucky to have them as in-laws. But it's definitely not all plain sailing. They are such big characters who aren't scared to speak their mind, and we have different points of view at times, so we have to work through that.
Quote examples
Ken Robinson
English Educator
Whether or not you discover your talents and passions is partly a matter of opportunity. If you've never been sailing, or picked up an instrument, or tried to teach or to write fiction, how would you know if you had a talent for these things?
Quote examples
Morgan Freeman
American Actor
If you live a life of make-believe, your life isn't worth anything until you do something that does challenge your reality. And to me, sailing the open ocean is a real challenge, because it's life or death.
Quote examples
William Morris
English Designer
We shall not be happy unless we live like good animals, unless we enjoy the exercise of the ordinary functions of life: eating, sleeping, loving, walking, running, swimming, riding, sailing.
Quote examples
Laura Dekker
Dutch Celebrity
My parents have sailed around the world; they know what can happen and that it's not always fun, but because I want to do it so much, they agreed and supported me.
Quote examples
Hannah Mills
Welsh Athlete
I loved to do sports when I was young. We were on a family holiday and went sailing. I just loved it. And there, you can say, life began to change for me.
Quote examples
John Lewis
American Politician
I think my whole life has been one of sort of daring, and sort of sailing against the wind instead of just going with the wind.
Quote examples
Louisa May Alcott
American Novelist
I am not afraid of storms for I am learning how to sail my ship.
Quote examples
Jonathan Powell
British Diplomat
I'd love to have a proper sailing boat and go around the world.
Quote examples
John Florio
English Writer
Wisdom sails with wind and time.
Quote examples
Kevin Jonas
American Musician
Dani's family are great, and I'm really lucky to have them as in-laws. But it's definitely not all plain sailing. They are such big characters who aren't scared to speak their mind, and we have different points of view at times, so we have to work through that.
Quote examples
Ken Robinson
English Educator
Whether or not you discover your talents and passions is partly a matter of opportunity. If you've never been sailing, or picked up an instrument, or tried to teach or to write fiction, how would you know if you had a talent for these things?
Quote examples
Morgan Freeman
American Actor
If you live a life of make-believe, your life isn't worth anything until you do something that does challenge your reality. And to me, sailing the open ocean is a real challenge, because it's life or death.
Quote examples
William Morris
English Designer
We shall not be happy unless we live like good animals, unless we enjoy the exercise of the ordinary functions of life: eating, sleeping, loving, walking, running, swimming, riding, sailing.
Quote examples
Laura Dekker
Dutch Celebrity
My parents have sailed around the world; they know what can happen and that it's not always fun, but because I want to do it so much, they agreed and supported me.
Quote examples
Hannah Mills
Welsh Athlete
I loved to do sports when I was young. We were on a family holiday and went sailing. I just loved it. And there, you can say, life began to change for me.
Quote examples
John Lewis
American Politician
I think my whole life has been one of sort of daring, and sort of sailing against the wind instead of just going with the wind.
Quote examples
Louisa May Alcott
American Novelist
I am not afraid of storms for I am learning how to sail my ship.
Quote examples
Jonathan Powell
British Diplomat
I'd love to have a proper sailing boat and go around the world.
Quote examples
John Florio
English Writer
Wisdom sails with wind and time.
Example 1 of 10
WordUp Chrome Extension
As you browse the web instantly look up words you don’t know.
Get Chrome Extension