# sailed

/ˈseɪɫd/ (US) · /sˈeɪld/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/sailed
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. travelled by boat

verb · CEFR A2

moved across water in a boat or ship.

For teachers: travelled across a body of water using wind power or an engine.

- We sailed across the lake in a small wooden boat last summer.
- The explorers sailed around the southern tip of the continent, battling fierce winds and unpredictable currents for several weeks.

Usage: Often used with prepositions like 'across', 'around', or 'to'.

### 2. moved smoothly

verb · CEFR B2

moved quickly and easily through a place.

For teachers: moved in a smooth, effortless, or confident manner.

- She sailed into the room and started talking to everyone immediately.
- Despite the difficult questions from the board, the candidate sailed through the interview with remarkable composure.

Usage: Frequently used in the phrasal verb 'sail through' to mean succeeding easily.

### 3. having sails

adjective · CEFR C2 · Technical

describes a boat that has a specific type or number of sails.

For teachers: equipped with sails; often used in combination to specify the rigging type.

- The old three-sailed ship sat quietly in the harbour.
- The museum features a collection of square-sailed vessels that were once the backbone of the regional merchant fleet.

Teaching tip: This adjective use is rare in modern conversation and is mostly found in technical maritime descriptions or historical literature.

## Examples

- The large ship sailed across the ocean last month.
- After the storm passed, the small fishing boat sailed back into the harbor safely.
- The explorer sailed into uncharted waters, documenting every coastline and island he encountered during the three-year voyage.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.