pilot 1 of 3

noun

ˈpī-lət How to pronounce pilot (audio)
Definition of pilotnext
as in aviator
one who flies or is qualified to fly an aircraft or spacecraft the airline is seeking experienced pilots to fly the new airplane

Synonyms & Similar Words

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pilot

2 of 3

adjective

as in experimental
made or done as an experiment a new pilot program to train inner-city residents for jobs in the tech sector

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

pilot

3 of 3

verb

1
as in to guide
to give advice and instruction to (someone) regarding the course or process to be followed piloted the figure skater through the national championships

Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in to steer
to point out the way for (someone) especially from a position in front the lead rider piloted the rest of the team

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to helm
to operate or control the course of managed to pilot the plane to safety despite the failure of the left engine

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb pilot contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of pilot are engineer, guide, lead, and steer. While all these words mean "to direct in a course or show the way to be followed," pilot suggests guidance over a dangerous or complicated course.

piloted the bill through the Senate

When could engineer be used to replace pilot?

The words engineer and pilot are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, engineer implies finding ways to avoid or overcome difficulties in achieving an end or carrying out a plan.

engineered his son's election to the governorship

In what contexts can guide take the place of pilot?

While the synonyms guide and pilot are close in meaning, guide implies intimate knowledge of the way and of all its difficulties and dangers.

guided the scouts through the cave

Where would lead be a reasonable alternative to pilot?

In some situations, the words lead and pilot are roughly equivalent. However, lead implies showing the way and often keeping those that follow under control and in order.

led his team to victory

When is it sensible to use steer instead of pilot?

The synonyms steer and pilot are sometimes interchangeable, but steer implies an ability to keep to a course and stresses the capacity of maneuvering correctly.

steered the ship through a narrow channel

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 pilot
Noun
The pilots told emergency responders that all passengers were okay. — Benjamin Stein, ABC News, 13 Aug. 2026 Peter Siebold, the pilot in command, survived but with major injuries. — Robert Pearlman, ArsTechnica, 13 Aug. 2026
Adjective
The story follows an astronaut (Kirby) who is forced to make an impossible decision after an incident with her co-pilot (Pullman) leaves an indelible stain on the mission in the days leading up to lift off, setting off a tense race against the clock. — Alex Ritman, Variety, 28 Apr. 2026 In 2014, a test flight operated by Scaled Composites, the company that designed and built the spaceplane, crashed and killed co-pilot Michael Alsbury. — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 8 Apr. 2026
Verb
During the near-disastrous Apollo 13 mission in 1970, commander Jim Lovell was informed of the successful impact while piloting his crippled spacecraft around the moon. — Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 4 Aug. 2026 This year, the district will be one of only a few in the country to pilot crime-fighting drones. — Scott Travis, Sun Sentinel, 1 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for pilot
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pilot
  1. aviator
  2. experimental
  3. guide
  4. steer
  5. developmental
  6. coach
  7. show
  8. investigative
Noun
  • The deal does not include Clay Lacy's FBO and maintenance businesses, which will remain with current ownership and continue to trade under the name of the famous aviator.
    — Doug Gollan, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
  • The brand is known for iconic models like the Portugieser, originally made in the 1930s for two Portuguese merchants, and the Big Pilot, created for aviators in the 1940s.
    — Frances Solá-Santiago, InStyle, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of aviator
Adjective
  • Sinkule says the first recipients of the experimental therapy should be scheduled before the end of the year, and that the treatment is roughly two and a half years away from market.
    — Mark Ellwood, Robb Report, 9 Aug. 2026
  • Tarr’s scheme was an international, experimental doctoral school for film studies that ran from 2013 to 2017 in the Bosnian capital.
    — Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of experimental
Verb
  • Storch makes no secret of his hopes to eventually guide Wednesday back to the Premier League, but this summer has taught him that will be a long road.
    — Philip Buckingham, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Will Howard, a sixth-round pick last year, guided the Steelers to a touchdown while deftly operating the 2-minute offense.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of guide
Verb
  • Zhu steered China’s economic policy for more than a decade since the early 1990s, first as a vice premier and then the premier under late leader Jiang Zemin, who died in late 2022.
    — CNN Staff, CNN Money, 12 Aug. 2026
  • The onshore breeze will steer storms to the west later on Tuesday.
    — Lissette Gonzalez, CBS News, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of steer
Adjective
  • While these programs are a step in the right direction to improving e-scooter safety, Chicago should also consider policies designed around the developmental needs and behaviors of youth.
    — Narmeen Khan, Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2026
  • This year’s main beneficiary is OCA (Opportunity, Community, Ability), an organization that empowers individuals with autism and other developmental differences.
    — Amy Drew Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of developmental
Verb
  • Vitello is plenty familiar with Tidwell and Gilbert sharing a field, having coached them both at Tennessee.
    — Justice delos Santos, Mercury News, 11 Aug. 2026
  • One of my C-suite coaching clients recently had a very specialized role, but her leadership colleagues gave her a business area to run as a growth opportunity.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of coach
Verb
  • The odds of a rate increase have ticked lower since last week, however, when a lackluster jobs report showed the labor market had shifted into reverse.
    — Max Zahn, ABC News, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Aside from the team information, shown below is each game’s rating, the probability of the favorite winning, the median score for each team and the median margin of victory for the favorite.
    — Loren Maxwell, AJC.com, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of show
Adjective
  • When a camera is taken offline, an investigative lead can disappear, and a time-sensitive alert tied to an AMBER Alert, a missing-person case, or a violent crime suspect on the move may never reach the officers who need it.
    — Emily Shapiro, ABC News, 6 Aug. 2026
  • The space company’s chief executive, Dave Limp, said investigative work is continuing into the anomaly that happened during a hot-fire test of the rocket during the evening of May 28, 2026.
    — Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of investigative

Browse Nearby Words

pills
pilot
piloted
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Cite this Entry

“Pilot.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pilot. Accessed 14 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of pilot for Spanish Speakers

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