How to Use awl in a Sentence

awl

noun
  • Use an awl or pick to catch the end of a piece and pry it up.
    — Neal Barrett, Popular Mechanics, 1 Feb. 2017
  • Use an awl or a carbide-tip scribe to score a cut line across the stock.
    — Roy Berendsohn, Popular Mechanics, 19 Jan. 2023
  • For eyebrows, use awl to poke 3 holes above each eye as shown.
    — Woman's Day Staff, Woman's Day, 25 July 2018
  • Hold back plate to wall or ceiling and mark screw points with scratch awl or nail through holes.
    — The Editors Of House Beautiful, House Beautiful, 12 Feb. 2015
  • Puts his hands on mine and guides the awl, the needle, the paintbrush.
    — Literary Hub, 14 Apr. 2026
  • Center the hinge on the apron, make starter holes with an awl, and fasten the hinge.
    — Joseph Truini, Popular Mechanics, 27 June 2020
  • Next, use the hole in the steel angle as a guide and use an awl to mark the pilot hole. Remove each end slat and predrill the pilot hole, then fasten in place.
    — Ricard Romanski, Popular Mechanics, 8 Feb. 2020
  • Using an awl, poke a small hole at each end of 12 plastic eggs.
    — Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Nov. 2022
  • This also comes with three punch plates, an awl, a ruler, and an eBook with tips and tricks.
    — Chris Hachey, BGR, 9 June 2021
  • Some awls, or handheld ice spikes, are important to have.
    — Ray Petelin, CBS News, 14 Feb. 2026
  • This comes with a free, see-through ruler and an awl tool to measure and mark your hole perfectly.
    — Chris Hachey, BGR, 9 June 2021
  • Using an awl, poke two holes in the bottom of mini pumpkins or gourds.
    — Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 Sep. 2025
  • Centered on the block's width, use the awl to mark both hole positions, 2 in.
    — James Schadewald, Popular Mechanics, 3 July 2021
  • Make cuts with an awl or another pointed tool, then insert the stems.
    — Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 4 Sep. 2023
  • Now use an awl to mark the hole for the dowel rod (C) in the crank arm (B).
    — James Schadewald, Popular Mechanics, 4 Aug. 2017
  • The Alpha also loses the ruler while adding an awl with thread loop.
    — New Atlas, 25 Oct. 2025
  • To test whether the wood has rotted, try poking it with the tip of a screwdriver or an awl.
    — Jeanne Huber, Washington Post, 3 Aug. 2020
  • Clamp a bolt, an awl (shown here), or a large nail in a vise to suspend a mower blade to check its balance.
    — Roy Berendsohn, Popular Mechanics, 17 Mar. 2023
  • The tool also has a saw, wire cutter, pry bar with nail puller, bottle opener, awl and file.
    — Tim MacWelch, Outdoor Life, 9 Sep. 2019
  • Using an awl or electric drill with a small bit, drill main points along the constellations.
    — Charlyne Mattox, Country Living, 15 July 2022
  • Use an awl, a Sharpie pen or a small triangular file to make a mark in the center of the vise’s jaws.
    — Roy Berendsohn, Popular Mechanics, 26 Apr. 2023
  • Simply use an awl to pierce a channel through two apples and thread twine through the bottom of one and the top of the other.
    — Savanna Bous, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 Sep. 2025
  • The ice awl can puncture hard surfaces and may also be useful for winter gear maintenance.
    — Maryna Holovnova, New Atlas, 28 Mar. 2026
  • Guided by evidence from the past, researchers used a stone flake and a bird bone awl to weave rushes into bottles.
    — Brigit Katz, Smithsonian, 30 June 2017
  • Guided by evidence from the past, researchers used a stone flake and a bird bone awl to weave rushes into bottles.
    — Brigit Katz, Smithsonian, 29 June 2017
  • Find all of the deadly devices - tacks, peach, leech, awl, ennui - and win a (nonfatal) bookmark.
    — Andrea Sachs, chicagotribune.com, 21 July 2017
  • Using an awl, mark the hole's location on the side of each piece so that it's centered along the width and positioned ¾ inch from the beveled end.
    — Ted Kilcommons, Popular Mechanics, 18 July 2020
  • The objects include a bronze awl, a chisel and knife, bronze fragments, and a small, cylindrical bronze box designed to be worn on a belt.
    — Erin Blakemore, National Geographic, 16 Oct. 2019
  • Other tool combos include a small flathead screwdriver/bottle opener, a ruler/file, and a small blade/awl.
    — New Atlas, 30 Sep. 2025
  • The tools split between the two sides include a plain-edge blade, saw that doubles as the ferro striker, stake puller, awl, bottle opener and ruler.
    — New Atlas, 18 Feb. 2025

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'awl.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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