Sail Sailed Seɪl Boat Sailing Smoothly Lake Ferry

• to sail into harbour
• the dinghy sailed smoothly across the lake.
• the ferry sails from newhaven to dieppe.
• one of the first people to sail around the world

sail

Verb Forms

1. to travel on water using sails or an engine
• to sail into harbour
• The dinghy sailed smoothly across the lake.
• The ferry sails from Newhaven to Dieppe.
• one of the first people to sail around the world
• The flotilla will sail north to Hawaii.
• to sail the Atlantic
• In his young days he had sailed the seas.

Extra Examples

• The boat sailed serenely on towards the horizon.
• We sailed on a large ocean liner.
• We were sailing from Dover to Calais.
2. to control or travel on a boat with a sail, especially as a sport
• We spent the weekend sailing off the south coast.
• Do you go sailing often?
• the first woman to sail solo around the world
• She sails her own yacht.
• He managed to sail the boat between the rocks.

Extra Examples

• I learned to sail as a child.
• We sailed the boat out into the middle of the lake.
3. to begin a journey on water
• We sail at 2 p.m. tomorrow.
• He sailed for the West Indies from Portsmouth.
• The ferry sails for Southampton at 5.30.
4. to move quickly and smoothly in a particular direction; (of people) to move in a confident manner
• clouds sailing across the sky
• The ball sailed over the goalie's head.
• She sailed past, ignoring me completely.
• An owl sailed silently out of the branches.
5. to take a risk by doing something that is dangerous or that may be illegal

Word Origin

• Old English segel (noun), seglian (verb), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch zeil and German Segel (nouns).