oil well

noun

: a well from which petroleum is obtained

Examples of oil well in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
The study’s answer was that cornfields, unlike oil wells, were carbon sinks. Michael Grunwald july 21, Literary Hub, 21 July 2025 According to government estimates, old oil wells as a whole (including orphan wells) have a bigger climate footprint than all the motorcycles in the country. Camila Domonoske, NPR, 7 July 2025 Industry executives were convinced enough to invest in making their own oil wells and pipelines resilient to climate change, while also working for decades to mislead the public about their products' connection to the problem. Chris Lee, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 July 2025 Cowden has a lot of oil wells on his land and started inspecting each one after the fires. Jayme Lozano Carver, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025 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 7 Aug. 2025.

Kids Definition

oil well

noun
: a well from which petroleum is obtained

More from Merriam-Webster on oil well

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