oil well

noun

: a well from which petroleum is obtained

Examples of oil well in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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At a certain point, that can begin to hurt the whole local business ecosystem of oil wells, pipelines and the refineries that turn crude oil into gasoline, jet fuel and diesel. Los Angeles Times, 14 Mar. 2026 And oil wells and refineries can’t be turned back on overnight. John Cassidy, New Yorker, 13 Mar. 2026 When former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein bombed hundreds of Kuwaiti oil wells in 1991, the surrounding land was unoccupied. Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 10 Mar. 2026 One oil well in National City is near four schools and five healthcare facilities, for example. Jemma Stephenson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for oil well

Word History

First Known Use

1847, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of oil well was in 1847

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Cite this Entry

“Oil well.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/oil%20well. Accessed 21 Mar. 2026.

Kids Definition

oil well

noun
: a well from which petroleum is obtained

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