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
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
Tom Rogers, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Apr. 2025
The theory behind the method is that many skin-care products can strip the skin of its natural oils, disrupt its pH balance, and alter its natural microbiome.
—Lauryn Higgins, Time, 30 Apr. 2025
Christian Stadler, Forbes.com, 7 Apr. 2025
The gift further connects revelers to Carved to Flow which began in a laboratory in Athens where oils, butters, and lye from the Mediterranean, Middle East, and North and West Africa were intermingled to create a soap.
—Natasha Gural, Forbes.com, 11 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for oil
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Noun
His country has emerged as one of the biggest purchasers of Russian oil since the start of the Ukraine war.
—Tom Rogers, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Apr. 2025
The theory behind the method is that many skin-care products can strip the skin of its natural oils, disrupt its pH balance, and alter its natural microbiome.
—Lauryn Higgins, Time, 30 Apr. 2025
Verb
To oil this customer engagement machine, Amazon introduced Prime.
—Christian Stadler, Forbes.com, 7 Apr. 2025
The gift further connects revelers to Carved to Flow which began in a laboratory in Athens where oils, butters, and lye from the Mediterranean, Middle East, and North and West Africa were intermingled to create a soap.
—Natasha Gural, Forbes.com, 11 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for oil
Cite this Entry
“Oil.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/oil. Accessed 7 May. 2025.
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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