pilot
1 of 3noun
pi·lot ˈpī-lət 
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
2
: guide, leader
3
: cowcatcher
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
6
: pilot light sense 1
pilotless
ˈpī-lət-ləs
adjective pilot
2 of 3verb
piloted; piloting; pilots
transitive verb
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
pilot
3 of 3adjective
: serving as a guiding or tracing device, an activating or auxiliary unit, or a trial apparatus or operation
a pilot study
Synonyms
Noun
- airman
- aviator
- birdman
- flier
- flyer
Verb
- coach
- counsel
- guide
- lead
- mentor
- shepherd
- show
- tutor
Adjective
- developmental
- experimental
- trial
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
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
Breanna Bell, Variety, 14 Sep. 2022 The last of the episodes sent to critics probably gets to the place American Gigolo should have reached by the end of its pilot. Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Sep. 2022 Dwight was a 27-year-old Air Force pilot at the time. CBS News, 1 Sep. 2022 Born in 1892, Bessie Coleman received her international pilot’s license in 1921 in France following her rejection from every aviation school in the U.S. for being a woman and for being Black. Claretta Bellamy, NBC News, 24 Aug. 2022 That means the Game of Thrones prequel has the largest series premiere in HBO history, including Game of Thrones, which had a 2.22 million viewership for its pilot episode back in 2011. Nick Romano, EW.com, 22 Aug. 2022 In the pilot, there’s a scene where a tech guy comes up and grabs a mike. Mike Sacks, The New Yorker, 7 Aug. 2022 Both of those moments were a big one, especially the first one, because that was in the pilot. Los Angeles Times, 12 July 2022 And the footage might remind fans of a thing or two from the show's original pilot — including a resident who's already slept with an attending. Christina Dugan Ramirez, Peoplemag, 6 Sep. 2022 Joe Otterson, Variety, 2 Sep. 2022 That’s why each bus has its own driver that will pilot the motorcoach to every race on the NASCAR calendar. Matt Crisara, Popular Mechanics, 26 Apr. 2022 The trend toward transportation companies rebranding as mobility technology businesses has opened up the skies as a new place to pilot electric and autonomous technology. Jaclyn Trop, Robb Report, 21 July 2022 Microsoft has created Project AirSim, a flight simulator that companies can use to train A.I. software to pilot drones. Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 19 July 2022 Another project which has just made the leap to pilot phase is an ambitious venture between Shell, Accenture, and Amex aimed at increasing the availability and use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). Bernard Marr, Forbes, 15 July 2022 Her plan would triple the federal Child Care and Development Block Grant, raise wages for providers and pilot a new program for six years. Lisa Hagen, Hartford Courant, 7 Aug. 2022 In 2016, with support from the Environmental Defense Fund, SPLT helped pilot a grassland offset protocol developed by the nonprofit Climate Action Reserve. Julia Rosen, The Atlantic, 25 July 2022 But when longtime friend Mike Burke stepped in and offered to join, Clyde decided to pilot the support vehicle. Basem Wasef, Robb Report, 14 June 2022 Libor Jany, Los Angeles Times, 6 Sep. 2022 The activists’ list of 12 demands includes supportive permanent housing, a safe discharge plan for people leaving hotels and shelters, and a pilot program to address chronic homelessness. Cassidy Jensen, Baltimore Sun, 18 Aug. 2022 Though Carden was initially cast as a Deals Deals Deals employee for the pilot episode of Jacobson’s hit Comedy Central series, the scene was left on the cutting room floor. Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 12 Aug. 2022 But this was more than simply the pilot episode of the January 6 show. Grace Segers, The New Republic, 9 June 2022 Before there was a script or a treatment for the pilot episode of Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, there was the idea for the theme song. Ew Staff, EW.com, 24 Jan. 2022 The United States government had recently launched a pilot program to repatriate children fathered by U.S. military personnel. Sam Whiting, San Francisco Chronicle, 18 Aug. 2022 Part of the effort is focused on expanding SMART’s Flex on-demand transit service, which has been operating on a pilot basis in Pontiac, Dearborn, Troy, Farmington and the Hall Road area in Macomb County. Eric D. Lawrence, Detroit Free Press, 12 Aug. 2022 Additionally, nine members would be added to the department to staff the city’s Group Violence Reduction Strategy, known as GVRS, which was deployed on a pilot basis in the Western District last year. Emily Opilo, Baltimore Sun, 27 May 2022 See More
Noun
The latter show will feature real-life husband and wife stars Mandy Patinkin and Kathryn Grody in the pilot. Breanna Bell, Variety, 14 Sep. 2022 The last of the episodes sent to critics probably gets to the place American Gigolo should have reached by the end of its pilot. Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Sep. 2022 Dwight was a 27-year-old Air Force pilot at the time. CBS News, 1 Sep. 2022 Born in 1892, Bessie Coleman received her international pilot’s license in 1921 in France following her rejection from every aviation school in the U.S. for being a woman and for being Black. Claretta Bellamy, NBC News, 24 Aug. 2022 That means the Game of Thrones prequel has the largest series premiere in HBO history, including Game of Thrones, which had a 2.22 million viewership for its pilot episode back in 2011. Nick Romano, EW.com, 22 Aug. 2022 In the pilot, there’s a scene where a tech guy comes up and grabs a mike. Mike Sacks, The New Yorker, 7 Aug. 2022 Both of those moments were a big one, especially the first one, because that was in the pilot. Los Angeles Times, 12 July 2022 And the footage might remind fans of a thing or two from the show's original pilot — including a resident who's already slept with an attending. Christina Dugan Ramirez, Peoplemag, 6 Sep. 2022 Verb
The show was first ordered to pilot at the streaming service back in March 2022. Joe Otterson, Variety, 2 Sep. 2022 That’s why each bus has its own driver that will pilot the motorcoach to every race on the NASCAR calendar. Matt Crisara, Popular Mechanics, 26 Apr. 2022 The trend toward transportation companies rebranding as mobility technology businesses has opened up the skies as a new place to pilot electric and autonomous technology. Jaclyn Trop, Robb Report, 21 July 2022 Microsoft has created Project AirSim, a flight simulator that companies can use to train A.I. software to pilot drones. Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 19 July 2022 Another project which has just made the leap to pilot phase is an ambitious venture between Shell, Accenture, and Amex aimed at increasing the availability and use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). Bernard Marr, Forbes, 15 July 2022 Her plan would triple the federal Child Care and Development Block Grant, raise wages for providers and pilot a new program for six years. Lisa Hagen, Hartford Courant, 7 Aug. 2022 In 2016, with support from the Environmental Defense Fund, SPLT helped pilot a grassland offset protocol developed by the nonprofit Climate Action Reserve. Julia Rosen, The Atlantic, 25 July 2022 But when longtime friend Mike Burke stepped in and offered to join, Clyde decided to pilot the support vehicle. Basem Wasef, Robb Report, 14 June 2022 Adjective
In Chicago, Moskowitz received a $400,000 federal grant to begin a pilot program to reduce burnout among intervention workers there. Libor Jany, Los Angeles Times, 6 Sep. 2022 The activists’ list of 12 demands includes supportive permanent housing, a safe discharge plan for people leaving hotels and shelters, and a pilot program to address chronic homelessness. Cassidy Jensen, Baltimore Sun, 18 Aug. 2022 Though Carden was initially cast as a Deals Deals Deals employee for the pilot episode of Jacobson’s hit Comedy Central series, the scene was left on the cutting room floor. Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 12 Aug. 2022 But this was more than simply the pilot episode of the January 6 show. Grace Segers, The New Republic, 9 June 2022 Before there was a script or a treatment for the pilot episode of Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, there was the idea for the theme song. Ew Staff, EW.com, 24 Jan. 2022 The United States government had recently launched a pilot program to repatriate children fathered by U.S. military personnel. Sam Whiting, San Francisco Chronicle, 18 Aug. 2022 Part of the effort is focused on expanding SMART’s Flex on-demand transit service, which has been operating on a pilot basis in Pontiac, Dearborn, Troy, Farmington and the Hall Road area in Macomb County. Eric D. Lawrence, Detroit Free Press, 12 Aug. 2022 Additionally, nine members would be added to the department to staff the city’s Group Violence Reduction Strategy, known as GVRS, which was deployed on a pilot basis in the Western District last year. Emily Opilo, Baltimore Sun, 27 May 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Noun
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 — more at foot
First Known Use
Noun
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Verb
1649, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Adjective
1915, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing pilot
Kids Definition
pilot 1 of 2
noun
pi·lot ˈpī-lət
1
: a person who flies an aircraft
2
: a person who steers a ship
3
: a person especially qualified to guide ships into and out of a port or in dangerous waters
pilot
2 of 2verb
piloted; piloting
1
: to fly (an airplane)
2
: to steer or guide (a boat)
pilot 1 of 3
noun
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
Relevance
- aviator
- airman
- copilot
- flyer
- flier
- test pilot
- birdman
- flyboy
- ace
- skipper
- captain
- bush pilot
- barnstormer
pilot
2 of 3adjective
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
- experimental
- trial
- developmental
- investigative
- preliminary
- exploratory
- preparatory
- hypothetical
- temporary
- tentative
- provisional
- speculative
- theoretical
- theoretic
- untried
- probative
- untested
- unproven
- conjectural
- unproved
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- standard
- established
- accepted
- developed
- advanced
- final
- tested
- permanent
- proved
- tried
- definitive
- proven
- decisive
- conclusive
pilot
3 of 3verb
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
- guide
- coach
- show
- mentor
- shepherd
- steer
- tutor
- accompany
- teach
- walk through
- train
- escort
- lead
- engineer
- counsel
- inform
- convoy
- school
- drill
- godfather
- squire
- supervise
- chaperone
- direct
- see
- brief
- attend
- oversee
- instruct
- chaperon
- sway
- superintend
- foster
- indoctrinate
- inculcate
- enlighten
- cultivate
- nurture
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
- guide
- steer
- show
- conduct
- route
- escort
- accompany
- lead
- direct
- marshal
- usher
- convoy
- marshall
- control
- chaperone
- attend
- precede
- chaperon
- see
- manage
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- dog
- follow
- trail
- tail
- shadow
- hound
- tailgate
3
as in to hijack
to operate or control the course of managed to pilot the plane to safety despite the failure of the left engine Synonyms & Similar Words
- steer
- hijack
- helm
- navigate
- conn
- con
- highjack
- commandeer
Synonym Chooser
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
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
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
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
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