sailing
11 synonyms for sailing, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — The activity or sport of traveling across water in a wind-powered boat.
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.
How to use sailing
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
go sailing
the next sailing
smooth sailing
Etymology
From Middle English sailende, formed from sail + the -ing suffix.
Full origin of sailing →Frequently asked questions
What does “sailing” mean?
The word “sailing” means the activity or sport of traveling across water in a wind-powered boat. In plain terms, the activity of traveling by sail-powered boat, or a scheduled ferry/ship departure.
How do you pronounce “sailing”?
“Sailing” is pronounced SAY-lihng (/ˈseɪ.lɪŋ/ in IPA).
How do you use “sailing” in a sentence?
Here is “sailing” used in a sentence: “Sailing is one of the most popular summer sports on the coast.”
What part of speech is “sailing”?
“Sailing” is a noun.
Where does the word “sailing” come from?
The word “sailing” comes from Middle English. From Middle English sailende, formed from sail + the -ing suffix.
Is “sailing” a common word?
“Sailing” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “sailing” have?
“Sailing” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the activity or sport of traveling across water in a wind-powered boat.
What is the difference between sailing and boating?
Boating is the general term for travelling on water in any small vessel, including motorboats. Sailing specifically means travelling in a boat powered by the wind, so all sailing is boating, but boating with an engine is not sailing.
What is the difference between smooth sailing and plain sailing?
Both idioms mean easy, trouble-free progress, as in "after the contract was signed, it was all smooth sailing." "Plain sailing" is the usual form in British English, while "smooth sailing" is more common in American English; the two are interchangeable in meaning.
What is the difference between sailing and yachting?
Sailing covers any travel in a wind-powered boat, from small dinghies to racing boats. Yachting refers to recreational cruising or racing in yachts, and it often suggests larger or more luxurious vessels, including motor yachts that do not use sails at all.
