1
a
: one employed to steer a ship : helmsman
b
: a person who is qualified and usually licensed to conduct a ship into and out of a port or in specified waters
c
: a person who flies or is qualified to fly an aircraft or spacecraft
3
4
: a piece that guides a tool or machine part
5
: a television show produced and filmed or taped as a sample of a proposed series
piloted; piloting; pilots
1
: to act as a guide to : lead or conduct over a usually difficult course
2
a
: to set and conn the course of
pilot a ship
b
: to act as pilot of
pilot a plane
: serving as a guiding or tracing device, an activating or auxiliary unit, or a trial apparatus or operation
a pilot study
Synonyms
Examples of pilot in a Sentence
Noun
the airline is seeking experienced pilots to fly the new airplane
Verb
He is learning how to pilot a helicopter.
He skillfully piloted the ship into port during the storm.
Adjective
The group conducted a pilot program.
a new pilot program to train inner-city residents for jobs in the tech sector
Recent Examples on the Web
Ben Kesslen, Quartz, 15 Nov. 2024
There is also a section on the American pilots held captive here, and the late Sen. John McCain's flight suit is part of the museum's collection.
—Catherine Garcia, theweek, 11 Nov. 2024
Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024
The Lions’ offense, piloted by senior quarterback Mason Premer, was potent, but its ball-hawking defense was dominant, and CA (15-3) was blanked for the first time this season.
—Patrick Saunders, The Denver Post, 2 Nov. 2024
Arjun Kharpal, CNBC, 23 July 2024
The pilot episode of Hazbin Hotel was released in 2019 on YouTube, but the first season premiered on Jan. 18 on Amazon Prime.
—Xander Zellner, Billboard, 31 Jan. 2024
See all Example Sentences for pilot 
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Noun
And Americans who have flown private before are three times more likely to trust private pilots over commercial ones.
—Ben Kesslen, Quartz, 15 Nov. 2024
There is also a section on the American pilots held captive here, and the late Sen. John McCain's flight suit is part of the museum's collection.
—Catherine Garcia, theweek, 11 Nov. 2024
Verb
This aircraft was piloted by Sergey Bogdan, the senior test pilot for aircraft designer Sukhoi.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024
The Lions’ offense, piloted by senior quarterback Mason Premer, was potent, but its ball-hawking defense was dominant, and CA (15-3) was blanked for the first time this season.
—Patrick Saunders, The Denver Post, 2 Nov. 2024
Adjective
Tom Chitty Like a pilot episode of a TV series to see what the reaction is.
—Arjun Kharpal, CNBC, 23 July 2024
The pilot episode of Hazbin Hotel was released in 2019 on YouTube, but the first season premiered on Jan. 18 on Amazon Prime.
—Xander Zellner, Billboard, 31 Jan. 2024
See all Example Sentences for pilot
Articles Related to pilot
Dictionary Entries Near pilot
Cite this Entry
“Pilot.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pilot. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
pilot
2 of 3 verb
: to act as pilot of : guide
pilot
3 of 3 adjective
: serving as a guiding or tracing device, as an activating or auxiliary unit, or to test a new invention or idea
a pilot study
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