sail
10 synonyms for sail, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A large piece of fabric rigged on a boat to catch the wind and drive it forward.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. noun
A large piece of fabric rigged on a boat to catch the wind and drive it forward.
“A strong wind filled the sail and the little boat shot forward.”
How to use sail
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
set sail
sail through
hoist the sail
Etymology
From Old English segl, from Proto-Germanic *seglą — related to German Segel and Dutch zeil.
Full origin of sail →Frequently asked questions
What does “sail” mean?
The word “sail” means a large piece of fabric rigged on a boat to catch the wind and drive it forward. In plain terms, the fabric that catches wind on a boat, or the act of traveling by boat (or moving smoothly, in a figurative sense).
How do you pronounce “sail”?
“Sail” is pronounced sayl (/seɪl/ in IPA).
How do you use “sail” in a sentence?
Here is “sail” used in a sentence: “The crew hoisted the mainsail as soon as they cleared the harbor.”
What part of speech is “sail”?
Depending on how it is used, “sail” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “sail” come from?
The word “sail” comes from Old English. From Old English segl, from Proto-Germanic *seglą — related to German Segel and Dutch zeil.
Is “sail” a common word?
“Sail” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “sail” have?
“Sail” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a large piece of fabric rigged on a boat to catch the wind and drive it forward.
What is the difference between sail and sale?
Sail and sale are homophones. A sail is the large piece of fabric that catches the wind on a boat, and to sail is to travel across water; a sale is the act of selling something or a period of reduced prices. The fixed phrase is "set sail," never "set sale."
Can a ship without sails still be said to sail?
Yes. Although the verb originally referred to travelling under wind power, it now covers travel by boat or ship generally, so a motor yacht or cruise liner sails from port to port.
