Pilot — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb adjective /ˈpī-lət/ pi·lot

Meaning & Definition of Pilot

Pilot (noun)

  1. one employed to steer a ship, helmsman
  2. a person who is qualified and usually licensed to conduct a ship into and out of a port or in specified waters
  3. a person who flies or is qualified to fly an aircraft or spacecraft

Pilot (verb)

  1. to act as a guide to, lead or conduct over a usually difficult course
  2. to set and conn the course of
  3. to act as pilot of

Pilot (adjective)

  1. serving as a guiding or tracing device, an activating or auxiliary unit, or a trial apparatus or operation

Pilot (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. one who flies or is qualified to fly an aircraft or spacecraft

    "the airline is seeking experienced pilots to fly the new airplane"

    similar: airman, aviator, birdman, flier
    related: ace, barnstormer, bush pilot, copilot, flyboy, test pilot, captain, skipper

Pilot (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. made or done as an experiment

    "a new pilot program to train inner-city residents for jobs in the tech sector"

    similar: developmental, experimental, trial
    related: exploratory, investigative, probative, preliminary, preparatory, provisional, temporary, tentative, conjectural, hypothetical, speculative, theoretical, untested, untried, unproved, unproven
    near: accepted, established, standard, tested, tried, advanced, developed, proved, proven, conclusive, decisive, definitive, final, permanent

Pilot (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to give advice and instruction to (someone) regarding the course or process to be followed

    "piloted the figure skater through the national championships"

    similar: coach, counsel, guide, lead, mentor, shepherd, show, tutor, walk through
    related: godfather, direct, engineer, steer, sway, accompany, attend, chaperone, convoy, escort, see, squire, oversee, superintend, supervise, drill, train, brief, enlighten, inform, instruct, school, teach, inculcate, indoctrinate, cultivate, foster, nurture

  2. to point out the way for (someone) especially from a position in front

    "the lead rider piloted the rest of the team"

    similar: conduct, direct, guide, lead, marshal, route, show, steer, usher
    related: precede, accompany, attend, chaperone, convoy, escort, see, control, manage
    opposite: follow, trail
    near: dog, hound, shadow, tail, tailgate

  3. to operate or control the course of

    "managed to pilot the plane to safety despite the failure of the left engine"

    similar: conn, helm, navigate, steer
    related: commandeer, hijack

Related Entry: Bush pilot (noun)

Bush pilot is a different word from Pilot. The synonyms below are for bush pilot, not for pilot.

  1. as in ace, test pilot

    similar: ace, barnstormer, copilot, flyboy, test pilot, airman, aviator, birdman, flier, pilot, captain, skipper

Related Entry: Sky pilot (noun)

Sky pilot is a different word from Pilot. The synonyms below are for sky pilot, not for pilot.

  1. as in chaplain, confessor

    similar: chaplain, confessor, abbé, curate, curé, parson, pastor, rector, shepherd, vicar, evangelist, missionary, missioner, missionizer, revivalist, abbot, archbishop, archpriest, bishop, dean, diocesan, monsignor, pope, prelate, presbyter, friar, mendicant, monastic, monk, oblate, religious, clergywoman, deaconess, priestess, high priest, high priestess, churchman, clergyman, father, Holy Joe (slang), padre, clergyperson, cleric, clerical, clerk, deacon, divine, dominie, ecclesiastic, minister, preacher, priest, reverend
    opposite: layman, layperson, secular, lay reader, lector

Related Entry: Test pilot (noun)

Test pilot is a different word from Pilot. The synonyms below are for test pilot, not for pilot.

  1. as in ace, bush pilot

    similar: ace, barnstormer, bush pilot, copilot, flyboy, airman, aviator, birdman, flier, pilot, captain, skipper

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Pilot

The most common words with a similar meaning to Pilot:

airman, aviator, birdman, flier, developmental, experimental, trial, coach, counsel, guide, lead, mentor, shepherd, show, tutor, conduct, direct, marshal, route, steer, usher, conn, helm, navigate, walk through

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Pilot

Words with the opposite meaning of Pilot:

follow, trail

Related Words for Pilot

ace, barnstormer, bush pilot, copilot, flyboy, test pilot, captain, skipper, exploratory, investigative, probative, preliminary, preparatory, provisional, temporary, tentative, conjectural, hypothetical, speculative, theoretical, untested, untried, unproved, unproven, godfather, engineer, sway, accompany, attend, chaperone

Near Antonyms of Pilot

accepted, established, standard, tested, tried, advanced, developed, proved, proven, conclusive, decisive, definitive, final, permanent, dog, hound, shadow, tail, tailgate

Word Forms of Pilot

Inflections: piloted, piloting, pilots

Derived words: pilotless (adjective)

Origin & Etymology of Pilot

Middle French pilote, from Italian pilota, alteration of pedota, from Middle Greek *pēdōtēs, from Greek pēda steering oars, plural of pēdon oar; probably akin to Greek pod-, pous foot foot

First known use: 15th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Pilot

Words & Phrases Containing Pilot

pilot biscuit, pilot engine, pilot fish, pilot light, pilot officer, pilot whale, automatic pilot

Frequently Asked Questions about Pilot

What does "Pilot" mean?

"Pilot" means one employed to steer a ship, helmsman. As an a noun, a verb and an adjective, it is defined as: one employed to steer a ship, helmsman. It has 5 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Pilot"?

Other words for "Pilot" include airman, aviator, birdman, flier, developmental, experimental, trial and coach. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Pilot" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Pilot"?

There are 80 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Pilot". Common alternatives include airman, aviator, birdman, flier, developmental, experimental, trial, coach, counsel and guide.

What is the opposite of "Pilot"?

Antonyms of "Pilot" include follow and trail. Near antonyms include accepted, established, standard and tested.

How do you use "Pilot" in a sentence?

Examples of "Pilot" in a sentence: "the airline is seeking experienced pilots to fly the new airplane"; "a new pilot program to train inner-city residents for jobs in the tech sector"; "piloted the figure skater through the national championships".

Is "Pilot" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Pilot" can be used as a noun, a verb and an adjective, depending on the context.

Is "Pilot" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As an A2-level word, "Pilot" is typical of Cambridge A2 Key (KET), PTE Academic 30–42, TOEIC Listening & Reading 225+.

How do you pronounce "Pilot"?

"Pilot" is pronounced /ˈpī-lət/ and divided into syllables as pi·lot.