ole

1 of 4

adjective

ˈōl 

informal

: old

reminiscing about the good ole days

had a grand ole time

saw a big ole snake

… "That ole devil still living?"

—Mildred D. Taylor

… an ole workin man …

—George Bernard Shaw

… new uses for the good ole potato.

—Sheila O'Meara Lowenstein

… he didn't lose because of little ole me.

—Matt Gurney

… the ole switcheroo, a technique whereby a jeweller will replace his infinitesimally smaller rock for your larger one.

—Elle

… what Robb has done for Democrats is win something. And not just any ole something: Virginia.

—George F. Will

olé

2 of 4

noun

ō-ˈlā 

: bravo entry 2

ole-

3 of 4

combining form

variants or oleo-

: oil

oleograph

-ole

4 of 4

noun combining form

variants or less commonly -ol

1

: chemical compound containing a 5-membered usually heterocyclic ring

pyrrole

2

: chemical compound not containing hydroxyl

eucalyptol

—especially in names of ethers

safrole

Examples of ole in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Is your everyday pair understated enough to pair with any ‘ole top in your closet? —Essence Wiley, InStyle, 13 Apr. 2026

Set the scene The hotel is just a short drive from the quaint town of Chatham, but has plenty available on property—there’s several food options, activities, and multiple areas primed for some good ole lounging. —Emily Adler, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Feb. 2026

And what better brand to help infuse fresh styles into your regular rotation than good ole Abercrombie & Fitch? —Katie Decker-Jacoby, StyleCaster, 7 Jan. 2026

Check him out representing the good ole US of A at the games in Cortina this February. —Outside Online, 31 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

by alteration

Noun

Spanish

Combining form

French olé-, oléo-, from Latin ole-, from oleum — more at oil

Noun combining form

International Scientific Vocabulary, from Latin oleum

First Known Use

Adjective

circa 1832, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1922, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing ole

• any ole
• good ole
• good ole boy

Rhymes for ole

• boal
• bole
• bowl
• coal
• droll
• foal
• goal
• hole
• knoll
• kol
• mole
• noll