oval

noun \ ˈō-vəl \

|Updated on: 22 Jun 2018

Examples: oval in a Sentence

Definition of oval

1 : an oval figure or object

2 : a racetrack in the shape of an oval or a rectangle having rounded corners

See oval defined for English-language learners

See oval defined for kids

Examples of oval in a Sentence

The racetrack is an oval.

Recent Examples of oval from the Web

Voters can also simply fill in one oval with their first-choice candidate.

— CBS News, "What does ranked-choice voting mean for voters in Maine?," 13 June 2018
Voters can also simply fill in one oval with their first-choice candidate.

— Washington Post, "AP EXPLAINS: What does ranked-choice voting mean for Maine?," 12 June 2018
In this way, the race was a rerun of American Pharoah’s victory in 2015, a long gallop around the massive oval called Big Sandy, towing a field of lessers in his wake whose jockeys and trainers were left with an impossible conundrum.

— tim layden, SI.com, "It's Instinctive to Compare Justify's Triple Crown to American Pharoah's but Both Share Connection to Greatness," 10 June 2018
The day before the birthday party, David had posted a video to his Instagram of himself in his black uniform standing on the rubbery red track oval.

— jenna russell, BostonGlobe.com, "They were all going to be somebody. The story of a fatal tragedy in East Bridgewater," 26 May 2018
After two wildly different races, one on the streets of St. Petersburg and the ISM short oval, one of the few common threads that connects both races is the consistent success of SPM.

— jim ayello, USA TODAY Sports, "Sparse crowds, bland racing threaten Phoenix IndyCar race," 8 Apr. 2018
Danica Patrick started tuning up for her final race on the historic 2.5-mile oval more than a week ago.

— michael marot, The Seattle Times, "Familiar faces, fond farewells, bumping headline Indy lineup," 13 May 2018
Minax Architects used a simple optical illusion to make a rectangular room in Shanghai’s One Teahouse to appear as an oval.

— liz stinson, Curbed, "An optical illusion turns plain room into a wooden cocoon," 11 May 2018
Bourdais, who won the season-opening race last month in St. Petersburg, Florida, averaged 188.539 on the ISM Raceway oval to win the 34th pole of his 13-year career, moving ahead of Dario Franchitti for seventh on the all-time list.

— elton alexander, cleveland.com, "IndyCar 2018: Live scoring, TV, live streaming, updates for Saturday's Phoenix Grand Prix," 7 Apr. 2018

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

First Known Use of oval

1570

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

oval

adjective

Definition of oval

: having the shape of an egg; also : broadly elliptical

—

ovality

play \ō-ˈva-lə-tē\ noun

—

ovally

play \ˈō-və-lē\ adverb

—

ovalness

noun

See oval defined for English-language learners

Examples of oval in a Sentence

the Oval Office in the White House

Recent Examples of oval from the Web

That marked his first oval victory in 77 career IndyCar starts.

— drew davison, star-telegram, "What impact has Will Power had since becoming the first Aussie Indy 500 champ?," 2 June 2018
In the design, some of the hotel’s Canadian nods might be so subtle as to appear invisible to the naked eye (like an oval hostess stand in the shape of Lake Ontario), but in the restaurants, Canadian tastes leap out as distinct.

— New York Times, "An Ottawa Hotel Is an Ode to Canada," 2 June 2018
Power had to change his thinking and his performance on oval tracks.

— Washington Post, "Will Power wins Indy 500, No. 17 for car owner Roger Penske," 29 May 2018
Spaceship clouds: Large, oval lenticular clouds that look like spaceships form over mountain peaks, indicating high wind on ridges in the moment, and often snow in two days.

— tom stienstra, San Francisco Chronicle, "Nature’s fortune-tellers predicted wild weather for Memorial Day weekend," 28 May 2018
With hot weather creating a slick, 2 ½-mile oval, new cars with less downforce proved to be handful.

— jenna fryer, chicagotribune.com, "Will Power wins Indy 500, No. 17 for car owner Roger Penske," 27 May 2018
With hot weather creating a slick, 2 ½-mile oval, new cars with less downforce proved to be handful.

— CBS News, "Will Power wins Indy 500; Danica Patrick crashes out," 27 May 2018
The Spectrum x Disney collab features two 10-piece makeup brush sets ($107), a 5-piece oval brush set ($87), and two makeup bags ($25).

— kelsey stiegman, Seventeen, "These Disney Princess Makeup Brushes Are Pure Magic and I Need Them ALL," 25 May 2018
An impish, energetic 50-year-old with a round face, oval glasses, and a steely wit, Mulvaney gives the impression of a man who revels in being the embodiment of liberals’ worst nightmare.

— devin leonard, Bloomberg.com, "Mick Mulvaney Is Having a Blast Running the Agency He Detests," 25 May 2018

Origin and Etymology of oval

Medieval Latin ovalis, from Late Latin, of an egg, from Latin ovum

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1561

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

oval Synonyms

Synonyms

elliptical (or elliptic), ovate, ovoid (also ovoidal);

OVAL Defined for English Language Learners

oval

noun

Definition of oval for English Language Learners

: something that has the shape of an egg

oval

adjective

Definition of oval for English Language Learners

: having the shape of an egg : shaped like a circle that is longer than it is wide

OVAL Defined for Kids

oval

noun \ ˈō-vəl \

Definition of oval for Students

: something having the shape of an egg or ellipse

The racetrack is an oval.

oval

adjective

Definition of oval for Students

: having the shape of an egg or ellipse : elliptical

Learn More about oval

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oval

Definition of oval

Examples of oval in a Sentence

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First Known Use of oval

oval

Definition of oval

ovality

ovally

ovalness

Examples of oval in a Sentence

Recent Examples of oval from the Web

Origin and Etymology of oval

oval Synonyms

Synonyms

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OVAL Defined for English Language Learners

oval

Definition of oval for English Language Learners

oval

Definition of oval for English Language Learners

OVAL Defined for Kids

oval

Definition of oval for Students

oval

Definition of oval for Students

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