oils 1 of 2

plural of oil

oils

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of oil
as in greases
to coat (something) with a slippery substance in order to reduce friction if you oil the machinery on a regular basis, it will operate more efficiently

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of oils
Noun
When raindrops hit dry ground and plants, the impact creates microscopic bubbles filled with geosmin and oils that rise into the air, pop and scatter into tiny particles that can then fill human nostrils. — Gregory Wakeman, Scientific American, 1 Oct. 2026 Then support the skin’s surface with botanical oils and beeswax. — Miami Herald, 1 Oct. 2026 Refiners turn oil discarded by restaurants and other waste fats into transportation fuel, extracting additional value from crops already grown and oils that have already served their original purpose. — Edward D. Melillo, The Conversation, 30 Sep. 2026 Use it to serve drinks or appetizers when guests come over, or leave it out on a counter to corral oils, spices, and other everyday essentials in a more polished way. — Alexandra Emanuelli, Southern Living, 29 Sep. 2026 Maintain your tub by rinsing, wiping after use, avoiding bath oils, and ventilating. — Sarah Lyon, The Spruce, 29 Sep. 2026 Also, its rolling olive oil cart, replete with its own menu describing the oils’ characteristics and origins, allows passengers to sample many. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Sep. 2026 Bathing too frequently can strip the natural oils from your dog’s coat and leave the skin dry. — Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 21 Sep. 2026 Polyunsaturated fats includes the omega-3 fats found mostly in fish are found in other cooking oils. — Jennifer Lefton, Verywell Health, 21 Sep. 2026
Verb
Ramakrishnan typically oils her hair twice a week before washing it. — Katie Hill, PEOPLE, 14 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for oils
Noun
  • The Musée de l’Orangerie is celebrating the centennial of Monet’s passing with an exhibit focusing on his art’s relation with time through about 40 paintings.
    — Lily Templeton, Footwear News, 29 Sep. 2026
  • Julian Gascoigne, a senior specialist in British paintings at Sotheby ’s, said the work is notable for its exceptional state of preservation, allowing viewers to appreciate Turner’s technique in unusual detail.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 29 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Rectitude is a hindrance in the game of electoral politics, where money greases the slippery pole and glad-hands welcome the winner with inside information.
    — Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 24 Aug. 2026
  • View this post on Instagram Access greases the gears of the entire apparatus by creating its own positive feedback loop, like an ouroboros of exclusivity.
    — Bloomberg, Mercury News, 14 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • The auction includes canvases by Van Gogh and Cézanne, which are alone estimated to bring in $180 million and $120 million, respectively.
    — News Desk, Artforum, 30 Sep. 2026
  • There is Adnan, steadily and unhesitatingly marking up pages in ink, or scraping pigment onto canvases with a palette knife, creating simplified, color-rich forms drawn from nature and memory.
    — Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 30 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Oils.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/oils. Accessed 5 Oct. 2026.

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