sailed

verb

past tense of sail
1
as in ferried
to travel on water in a vessel I can't sail when there's any breeze at all because I get seasick easily

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2
as in flowed
to move or proceed smoothly and readily sailed through the latest assignment

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in hovered
to rest or move along the surface of a liquid or in the air a leaf sailed by, carried by the breeze

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of sailed His throw sailed over second base and all the way to the backstop, allowing Steer to move to third. — Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 21 June 2026 Most of the crew members had sailed together for years, spending as much time on board as at home; several were related. — Will Freeman, New Yorker, 30 June 2026 The shot sailed just out of reach of the outstretched hand of Japan goalkeeper Zion Suzuki and into the net. — Kristie Rieken, Chicago Tribune, 29 June 2026 In the second half, Haaland almost had a one-on-one opportunity with the goalkeeper, but the ball sailed too far ahead of him. — Lawrence Dow, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 June 2026 Gwinnett was an English clergymen’s son who sailed for the colonies in 1762 and opened a general store in Savannah in 1765. — Adam Van Brimmer, AJC.com, 30 June 2026 But on July 2, 1776, as the mighty British army sailed into New York Harbor, the delegates in Philadelphia's Independence Hall voted yea. — Douglas Brinkley, CBS News, 28 June 2026 In 2024, Joe Biden sailed to the Democratic presidential nomination after a primary process that was little more than a formality, with the Florida Democratic Party even cancelling its primary in March to anoint Biden. — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 28 June 2026 Banijay Iberia will bring its immersive experience ‘Luminiscence’ to Seville’s stunning Parish of San Jacinto, in its Triana district, home to famed flamenco dancers, bullfights and sailors who sailed to Spain’s New World in the Americas. — John Hopewell, Variety, 22 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sailed
  1. ferried
  2. flowed
  3. hovered
  4. cruised
  5. drifted
  6. floated
  7. boated
  8. glided
Verb
  • The gift from the Middle Eastern power raised ethical concerns, but Trump saw the plane as a necessary replacement to the 35-year-old planes that had previously ferried him as president.
    — Julia Demaree Nikhinson, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026
  • Decades of river tours For more than nine decades, the Jungle Queen ferried generations of visitors through Fort Lauderdale’s scenic waterways, serving up sightseeing cruises, dinner excursions, and evenings at its proprietary Tropical Isle.
    — David Lyons, Sun Sentinel, 29 June 2026
Definition of ferried
Verb
  • Iran’s bargaining chip Authorities in Iran have repeatedly used the Strait of Hormuz – through which around a fifth of the world’s crude flowed before the war – as a bargaining chip.
    — Lex Harvey, CNN Money, 7 July 2026
  • Still, by the end of the concert, a soggy yet determined crowd of 4,750 had flowed through the park grounds.
    — Hannah Edgar, Chicago Tribune, 5 July 2026
Definition of flowed
Verb
  • Off-pitch issues hovered over the tournament, but the football has delivered.
    — Sukhman Singh, New York Times, 29 June 2026
  • The lowest get-in prices hovered around $3,500 early Saturday on Friday.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 27 June 2026
Definition of hovered
Verb
  • In his first bout at 170 pounds, Makhachev cruised to a decision win over Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 322 in November 2025, easily wresting the UFC welterweight crown from Della Maddalena.
    — Trent Reinsmith, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026
  • Zebby Matthews cruised through the first four frames, allowing just one run.
    — Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 4 July 2026
Definition of cruised
Verb
  • Around the communal tables, conversations paused as traditional Vietnamese court music drifted through the room.
    — Karen Yuan, Vogue, 3 July 2026
  • As well as dropping deep, Cruyff also drifted out wide and provided two assists in the group stage with fine crosses.
    — Michael Cox, New York Times, 1 July 2026
Definition of drifted
Verb
  • Emerson’s single that floated just above the outstretched glove of Angels first baseman Nolan Schanuel drove in the first two.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026
  • Muhammad floated a 155-pound matchup with Rafael Fiziev, fresh off his Baku knockout win.
    — Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
Definition of floated
Verb
  • Over two partial days and one full day of fishing – roughly 15 hours total – the three of us boated 53 catfish up to 25 pounds.
    — Brad Dokken, Twin Cities, 29 Aug. 2025
  • Many of the 30,000 tourists last year who boated down the Paraguay River beside the Serra do Amolar, about 60 miles downriver from Porto Jofre, were guests on liveaboard fishing charters.
    — Megan Spurrell, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Aug. 2025
Definition of boated
Verb
  • The particles glided past each other effortlessly.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 24 June 2026
  • Up close, the design boasted a ruffled accent along the neckline that added movement to the gown as Saldaña glided around the room.
    — Chanel Vargas, InStyle, 20 June 2026
Definition of glided

Browse Nearby Words

sailboats
sailed
sailed into
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Cite this Entry

“Sailed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sailed. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on sailed

Nglish: Translation of sailed for Spanish Speakers

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