oily

adjective

\ ˈȯi-lē

oilier; oiliest

Definition of oily

1 : of, relating to, or consisting of oil

2a : covered or impregnated with oil oily rags

b : relatively high in naturally secreted oils oily skin oily hair

3 : excessively smooth or suave in manner

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Examples of oily in a Sentence

The liquid has an oily feel. a pile of oily rags The salad dressing was very oily.

Recent Examples on the Web

Humidity is not friendly to oily skin, but Tatcha’s cream has somehow mastered a formula that hydrates and moisturizes without an increase in oil. — Asia Milia Ware, Teen Vogue, "The Moisturizer Kim Kardashian’s Makeup Artist Swears By Lives Up To The Hype," 19 Apr. 2019 Even a quick blast of compressed air to dry off a fastener will leave an oily film behind, affecting ultimate torque. — Popular Mechanics Editors, Popular Mechanics, "How to Use a Torque Wrench to Keep Your Car from Flying Apart," 26 Feb. 2019 The Cream is a light formula best for normal, combination, or oily skin; The Rich Cream is best for dry skin. — Mia Adorante, Town & Country, "How One Mother’s Beauty Philosophy Became a Powerful Family Bond," 21 Mar. 2019 Having oily skin and wearing thicker makeup just add to the issue. — Sarah Jacoby, SELF, "The Acne-Prevention Strategies Glasses Wearers Need to Know," 21 Mar. 2019 His tips: If the stain is non-oily (like wine), blot it with a paper towel and sparingly add water to the spot to dilute it, repeating this process until the stain is gone. — Kelsey Ogletree, House Beautiful, "How to Clean Your Vintage Rug," 5 Mar. 2019 It’s all topped off by an oily outer layer made by your Meibomian glands (located under your eyelids). — Korin Miller, SELF, "So Your Doctor Says You Have Dry Eye? Here Are 8 Treatment Options to Know," 13 Dec. 2018 For those with oily or combination skin types, Skin Food Light will be a godsend. — Kaleigh Fasanella, Allure, "Exclusive: Weleda Created an Entire Collection of Skin Food Products," 22 Oct. 2018 Finally, the solvents are distilled out of the oily liquid and recycled over and over again. — Clifford Krauss, The Seattle Times, "Canadian firm tests new process to turn Utah sands into oil," 27 Aug. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'oily.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.