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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When oil wells are shut in, the pressure underground can become imbalanced, deforming the underlying structure. David Goldman, CNN Money, 27 May 2026 The earthquake occurred 18 miles west of the Humboldt County community of Petrolia, which by happenstance is the site of the first commercially successful oil well in California, drilled in 1865. George Avalos, Mercury News, 25 May 2026 Unlike many oil wells in the continental US, which can be drilled quickly but also decline rapidly, Alaska’s conventional crude reservoirs tend to be larger and longer-lived. Jennifer A. Dlouhy, Fortune, 24 May 2026 Unlike the massive data centers built by the hyperscalers, Armada's data centers can attach to existing energy sources, such as solar power and gas flares produced by oil wells, and can be deployed within days rather than years. Krysta Escobar, CNBC, 19 May 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 30 May. 2026.

Kids Definition

oil well

noun
: a well from which petroleum is obtained

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