oasis

noun

oa·​sis ō-ˈā-səs 

plural oases ō-ˈā-ˌsēz 

1

: a fertile or green area in an arid region (such as a desert)

The caravan stopped to rest at an oasis.

2

: something that provides refuge, relief, or pleasant contrast

The small park is a welcome oasis amid the city's many factories.

Examples of oasis in a Sentence

The small park is a welcome oasis amid the city's many factories.

Our brief trip to the beach was a much-needed oasis in a summer of hard work.

Recent Examples on the Web

Without a doubt, the shower is my oasis. —Michelle Duncan, Architectural Digest, 31 Oct. 2025

And just like that the cast of Family Matters was gone and in the living’s room place came a tropical oasis, complete with palm trees and coconuts. —Lizzie Hyman, PEOPLE, 30 Oct. 2025

Everybody took off to their own little oasis and began to read through their pages — the only sound in the room was the flipping of paper. —Jay Glennie, Rolling Stone, 28 Oct. 2025

Also located in Roan Hills is the community’s first Bark Park, a furry-friend oasis with separate areas for small and large dogs to play. —Calesa Township, Miami Herald, 28 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Latin Oasis, referring to the Great Oasis of Kharge in the Libyan Desert of Egypt, borrowed from Greek Óasis (Herodotus), borrowed from Egyptian wḥꜢ.t "fertile area in the desert"

First Known Use

1613, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for oasis

• basis
• glacis
• mesas
• stasis
• anabasis
• cholestasis
• haemostasis
• hemostasis
• hypostasis
• atelectasis
• bronchiectasis
• homeostasis

Kids Definition

oasis

noun

oa·​sis ō-ˈā-səs 

plural oases -ˈā-ˌsēz 

1

: a fertile or green spot in a desert

2

: something or some place that provides refreshing relief