sails
sails — verb
- sailspresent simple I / you / we / they
- sailses3rd person singular
- sailsing-ing form
- sailsedpast simple
1. If a ship or boat sails, it travels across the water pushed by wind moving large
If a ship or boat sails, it travels across the water pushed by wind moving large cloth sheets, or by a motor.
The morning ferry sails from Tamsui to Bali Pier every day, carrying commuters and tourists.
sail from [place] to [place]
Large cargo ships sail across the Pacific Ocean carrying electronics and clothes from Asia.
sail across [body of water]
Nia's grandfather sailed along the coast of Norway in a small wooden boat he built.
Jenna watched the white yacht sail slowly into the golden sunset.
文法句型
sail + adverb/preposition
sail from [place] to [place]
sail across [body of water]
用法筆記
Commonly followed by a prepositional phrase showing direction (from, to, across, along, into). The subject is always a watercraft or, less commonly, the people on board.
常見錯誤
2. To control and steer a boat that uses wind power, adjusting the sails and direct
To control and steer a boat that uses wind power, adjusting the sails and direction to move across water.
Lucas learned to sail a small dinghy on the lake near his summer home.
learn to sail [boat type]
Talia sailed the boat across the bay while her father adjusted the ropes.
sail [boat] across [water body]
The instructor taught eight children how to sail safely when the wind is strong.
Yara has sailed many kinds of boats, from small catamarans to large racing sloops.
文法句型
sail + [boat type]
learn to sail
用法筆記
Used transitively with a type of boat as the object. Unlike sense 1 (TRAVEL BY WATER), this sense focuses on the skill or act of steering rather than the movement itself.
3. To begin a journey by ship, leaving from a port at a specific time heading towar
To begin a journey by ship, leaving from a port at a specific time heading toward a destination.
The cruise ship sails from Barcelona at six o'clock tomorrow evening.
sail from [port] at [time]
Benjamin and Ayesha sailed for Crete on an overnight ferry from Athens.
sail for [destination]
The navy fleet sails at dawn toward the training area in the South China Sea.
After three days in port the container ship finally sails for Shanghai.
- depart
more general; can apply to any form of transport, not just ships
- leave port
specifically about vessels departing from a harbour
文法句型
sail from [port]
sail for [destination]
sail at [time]
用法筆記
Often used in schedules and announcements (sails at, sails from, sails for). Distinguish from sense 1 (TRAVEL BY WATER): sense 3 emphasises the moment of departure, not the ongoing movement.
4. To move in a smooth, fast, and effortless way — for example, a person passing an
To move in a smooth, fast, and effortless way — for example, a person passing an exam easily, or an object gliding through the air.
The basketball sailed through the air and landed perfectly in the net.
object + sail through the air
Marta sailed through her final exams without even opening her notes.
sail through [challenge]
The red kite sailed high above the beach pulled by the strong afternoon wind.
Faisal watched the paper airplane sail across the classroom and land on the teacher's desk.
- glide
emphasises smooth, silent movement more than speed
- breeze through
informal, used only for tasks or challenges, not physical movement
- struggle
to move or act with difficulty, the opposite of smooth ease
文法句型
sail through [something]
sail + adverb of direction
用法筆記
When used about a person, this sense often carries a positive connotation of doing something with ease. It is not used for slow or difficult movement.
sails — noun
- sailssingular
- sailsesplural
1. A sail is a sheet of strong fabric fastened to a boat's mast so the wind can pus
A sail is a sheet of strong fabric fastened to a boat's mast so the wind can push the vessel forward across the water.
The strong wind tore a hole in the sail of the fishing boat.
hole in the sail
Cyrus helped his father fold the large white sail after they returned to the harbour.
fold the sail
The captain ordered the crew to raise the sails as the wind picked up speed.
A patch of blue cloth on the old sail showed where it had been repaired.
用法筆記
Often used in the plural (sails) because most boats have more than one. Common in fixed expressions like 'raise the sails', 'lower the sails', and 'set sail'.
常見錯誤
2. One of the long flat parts of a windmill that catch the wind and turn to produce
One of the long flat parts of a windmill that catch the wind and turn to produce power.
The four wooden sails of the old windmill turned slowly in the autumn breeze.
sails of the windmill
Farmers used the power from the windmill's sails to grind wheat into flour.
One of the windmill's sails broke during the storm and crashed to the ground.
Naoko took a photograph of the colourful sails of a traditional Dutch windmill.
用法筆記
This sense only applies to traditional windmills with visible blades. Modern wind turbines are said to have 'blades' not 'sails'.
3. A trip taken on a boat or ship, especially for pleasure.
A trip taken on a boat or ship, especially for pleasure.
The family took a sail around the harbour on a sunny Sunday afternoon.
take a sail
Antonia enjoyed the two-hour sail from the island back to the mainland.
Their sail across the bay was cancelled because of the bad weather.
Grandpa still talks about his first sail across the Atlantic Ocean.
文法句型
a sail + adverb/preposition
take a sail
go for a sail
用法筆記
Typically preceded by 'a' and followed by a destination or direction phrase. More common in British English than American English for this sense.
4. The fixed phrase 'set sail' means to leave a port and begin a journey by boat or
The fixed phrase 'set sail' means to leave a port and begin a journey by boat or ship.
The pirate ship set sail at sunrise with a fresh wind pushing it forward.
set sail at [time]
Saira and her family set sail for Malaysia early in the morning.
set sail for [destination]
The captain announced that they would set sail as soon as the storm passed.
The crew set sail from the small harbour and disappeared over the horizon.
文法句型
set sail
set sail for [destination]
set sail from [port]
用法筆記
Almost always used as part of the fixed expression 'set sail'. Unlike noun sense 3 (SEA JOURNEY), this sense is about the act of departure, not the trip itself.