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set sail

Meaning in simple English, pronunciation and examples

Pronunciation: US /ˌsɛt ˈseɪl/ · UK /ˌset ˈseɪl/

set sail means: To leave a place and begin a journey by boat or ship.

verb

BEGIN VOYAGEB2

To leave a place and begin a journey by boat or ship.

  • We set sail at dawn.
  • The ship set sail for Greece yesterday.
  • When do we set sail from the harbor?

How to use it: set sail for somewhere (We set sail for the island at dawn.); set sail from somewhere (They set sail from a small port.)

Similar words: depart, put to sea

Common phrases: set sail for somewhere, set sail from somewhere, set sail tomorrow

POWERED DEPARTUREB2

To begin a sea journey on a ship that uses an engine rather than sails.

  • The ferry will set sail soon.
  • Our diesel ship set sail at noon.
  • The steamship set sail with two hundred passengers.

How to use it: set sail for somewhere (The cruise ship set sail for Norway.)

Similar words: depart, put to sea

Common phrases: ferry set sail, set sail for somewhere, set sail from somewhere

ARRANGE SAILSC2

To open and position a boat’s sails so that the wind can move it.

  • The crew set sail together.
  • We set sail once the wind strengthened.
  • The sailors prepared the ropes before setting sail.

Similar words: hoist sails, spread sails

Common phrases: set sail carefully, set sail together, set sail before departure

Questions about set sail

What does set sail mean?

To leave a place and begin a journey by boat or ship.

What is set sail in other languages?

Türkçe: denize açılmak · Español: zarpar · Français: prendre la mer · Deutsch: in See stechen · Italiano: salpare · 日本語: 出航する

How do you pronounce set sail?

In American English /ˌsɛt ˈseɪl/; in British English /ˌset ˈseɪl/.

How do you use set sail in a sentence?

We set sail at dawn. The ship set sail for Greece yesterday.

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set sail in other languages

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