often attributive
1
a
: any of numerous unctuous combustible substances that are liquid or can be liquefied easily on warming, are soluble in ether but not in water, and leave a greasy stain on paper or cloth
b(1)
(2)
: the petroleum industry
2
: a substance (such as a cosmetic preparation) of oily consistency
bath oil
3
a
: an oil color used by an artist
b
: a painting done in oil colors
4
: unctuous or flattering speech
oiled; oiling; oils
: to smear, rub over, furnish, or lubricate with oil
: to take on fuel oil
Synonyms
Examples of oil in a Sentence
Noun
The price of crude oil is expected to rise.
We heat our house with oil.
A little bit of oil will help lubricate the chain.
Add a little oil to the pan and stir-fry the onions.
The dressing is made with oil, vinegar, and a pinch of herbs.
Verb
He oiled the bearings of the machine.
if you oil the machinery on a regular basis, it will operate more efficiently
Recent Examples on the Web
Rebecca Hersher, NPR, 22 Apr. 2024
On today's The Excerpt podcast, why Donald Trump's comments on oil and immigration are at odds.
—USA TODAY, 22 Apr. 2024
Jojoba oil, shea butter, and squalane will plump your skin back up in no time.
—Nikhita Mahtani, Allure, 22 Apr. 2024
If these tools can clean CO2 or cool the planet, the logic goes, then the use of gas-guzzling cars, smog-producing products, and oil and gas drilling can continue as usual.
—Hayley Smith, Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2024
The upper chamber is filled with 3.75 ml of oil, which creates and almost surreal lack of distortion when vieweing the dial through the crystal.
—Allen Farmelo, Robb Report, 19 Apr. 2024
Regularly use an unscented moisturizer with a high oil content to hydrate your skin.10
3.
—Karyn Repinski, Health, 19 Apr. 2024
Sharp tumbles for oil prices lessened investors’ worries about inflation, which in turn helped Treasury yields ease.
—Elaine Kurtenbach, Quartz, 18 Apr. 2024
This cocoa butter set includes nursing butter, skin therapy oil, skin tightening cream, and bust cream, each formulated with vitamin E and shea butter to help nourish your skin.
—Katrina Cossey, Parents, 18 Apr. 2024
Julia Moore, Peoplemag, 1 Apr. 2024
To keep your cutting board looking good as new, be sure to oil it at least once a month.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 3 Apr. 2024
No people were injured or killed, but the spill oiled 69 miles of shore.
—Paul Rogers, The Mercury News, 26 Mar. 2024
Keep in Mind It should be hand washed and oiled regularly.
—Rachael Hogg, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Mar. 2024
Wood is also best maintained with oil, so consider oiling the surface a few times a year.
—Emma Kershaw, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024
After oiling, water should run off rather than soaking in.
—Rachael Hogg, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Mar. 2024
One bird — a Brandt’s cormorant — that had been oiled died over the weekend.
—Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 11 Mar. 2024
Bitcoin remains about $20,000 below the record high the token hit in 2021, during a pandemic-era bull run oiled by easy money.
—Bloomberg, Orange County Register, 12 Feb. 2024
Noun
The shift away from oil, gas and coal for electricity is helping Europe cut its emissions of planet-warming greenhouse gasses, which will help curb future deadly warming.
—Rebecca Hersher, NPR, 22 Apr. 2024
On today's The Excerpt podcast, why Donald Trump's comments on oil and immigration are at odds.
—USA TODAY, 22 Apr. 2024
Jojoba oil, shea butter, and squalane will plump your skin back up in no time.
—Nikhita Mahtani, Allure, 22 Apr. 2024
If these tools can clean CO2 or cool the planet, the logic goes, then the use of gas-guzzling cars, smog-producing products, and oil and gas drilling can continue as usual.
—Hayley Smith, Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2024
The upper chamber is filled with 3.75 ml of oil, which creates and almost surreal lack of distortion when vieweing the dial through the crystal.
—Allen Farmelo, Robb Report, 19 Apr. 2024
Regularly use an unscented moisturizer with a high oil content to hydrate your skin.10
3.
—Karyn Repinski, Health, 19 Apr. 2024
Sharp tumbles for oil prices lessened investors’ worries about inflation, which in turn helped Treasury yields ease.
—Elaine Kurtenbach, Quartz, 18 Apr. 2024
This cocoa butter set includes nursing butter, skin therapy oil, skin tightening cream, and bust cream, each formulated with vitamin E and shea butter to help nourish your skin.
—Katrina Cossey, Parents, 18 Apr. 2024
Verb
In the trailer, the women go through everything, from oiling up their partners to a tug-of-war style strength competition to earn time with the man of their choosing.
—Julia Moore, Peoplemag, 1 Apr. 2024
To keep your cutting board looking good as new, be sure to oil it at least once a month.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 3 Apr. 2024
No people were injured or killed, but the spill oiled 69 miles of shore.
—Paul Rogers, The Mercury News, 26 Mar. 2024
Keep in Mind It should be hand washed and oiled regularly.
—Rachael Hogg, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Mar. 2024
Wood is also best maintained with oil, so consider oiling the surface a few times a year.
—Emma Kershaw, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024
After oiling, water should run off rather than soaking in.
—Rachael Hogg, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Mar. 2024
One bird — a Brandt’s cormorant — that had been oiled died over the weekend.
—Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 11 Mar. 2024
Bitcoin remains about $20,000 below the record high the token hit in 2021, during a pandemic-era bull run oiled by easy money.
—Bloomberg, Orange County Register, 12 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'oil.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near oil
Cite this Entry
“Oil.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/oil. Accessed 26 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
oil
1 of 2 noun1
a
: any of numerous greasy flammable usually liquid substances from plant, animal, or mineral sources that do not dissolve in water and are used especially as lubricants, fuels, and food
b
2
: something (as a cosmetic) like oil or containing an oil
bath oil
suntan oil
3
a
: artist's paints made of pigments and oil
b
: a painting done in oils
oil
2 of 2 verb
: to put oil in or on
Medical Definition
oil
noun1
: any of numerous unctuous combustible substances that are liquid or can be liquefied easily on warming, are soluble in ether but not in water, and leave a greasy stain on paper or cloth see essential oil, fatty oil, volatile oil
2
: a substance (as a cosmetic preparation) of oily consistency
bath oil
oil
adjective
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