How to Use oil in a Sentence

oil

1 of 2 noun
  • Add a little oil to the pan and stir-fry the onions.
  • We heat our house with oil.
  • The price of crude oil is expected to rise.
  • The dressing is made with oil, vinegar, and a pinch of herbs.
  • A little bit of oil will help lubricate the chain.
  • That’s sent oil prices up sharply.
    — David Goldman, CNN Money, 20 Feb. 2026
  • That has caused oil prices to soar.
    — Jon Gambrell, Twin Cities, 5 Mar. 2026
  • Poo spray, dog treats and beard oil.
    — Greta Cross, USA Today, 24 Oct. 2025
  • Fill a large, dry pot with ¾-inch of oil.
    — Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Nov. 2025
  • In a large bowl toss wings with oil and salt to coat.
    — Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Sep. 2025
  • Grease a baking sheet with oil.
    — Katie Parla, Saveur, 30 Oct. 2025
  • If there is no oil, there is no money.
    — Lorne Cook, Arkansas Online, 20 Mar. 2026
  • When the oil is hot, add the tomatoes.
    — Robin Miller, AZCentral.com, 3 Oct. 2025
  • Are retinol body oils safe for daily use?
    — Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 5 Feb. 2026
  • Heat the oil in a deep saucepan over medium heat.
    — Philip Potempa, Chicago Tribune, 8 May 2026
  • Venezuela has the largest oil reserves in the world.
    — The Atlantic, 29 Jan. 2026
  • About 20% of the world’s oil flows through the strait.
    — Bart Jansen, USA Today, 2 Apr. 2026
  • Why don't dentists like oil pulling?
    — Hannah Yasharoff, USA Today, 3 Oct. 2025
  • The truck was loaded with five drums of crude oil.
    — Arkansas Online, 5 Feb. 2026
  • The spicy oil is the right amount of spice for my liking.
    — Joseph Hernandez, Kansas City Star, 30 Oct. 2025
  • Treasury yields eased along with the fall in oil prices.
    — Stan Choe, Los Angeles Times, 26 June 2026
  • Yields have moved higher the past week as crude oil prices have climbed.
    — Sean Conlon,joseph Wilkins, CNBC, 24 Apr. 2026
  • And if no one is eager to buy any of it, oil prices could plunge.
    — David Goldman, CNN Money, 6 July 2026
  • Heat oil in a large Dutch oven over medium.
    — Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 25 Oct. 2025
  • Turns out, these oils can help give your floors a deeper clean, too!
    — Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 9 Nov. 2025
  • The oil market can’t run down to the last drop, like your car can.
    — David Goldman, CNN Money, 12 June 2026
  • The chow fun noodles are just al dente and slick with soy sauce and oil.
    — Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2024
  • Heat oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high.
    — Ann Taylor Pittman, Southern Living, 19 Oct. 2025
  • Heat oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high.
    — Elizabeth Mervosh, Southern Living, 12 Oct. 2025
  • Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
    — Robin Miller, AZCentral.com, 3 Oct. 2025

oil

2 of 2 verb
  • He oiled the bearings of the machine.
  • Lightly oil the fronts and backs of your hands.
    — Erin Hooker, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 Sep. 2025
  • But the big keyhole was plain, oiled, in use.
    — Literary Hub, 9 Sep. 2025
  • But his success has been oiled by a healthy squirt of good luck.
    — The Economist, 12 Apr. 2018
  • Form the dough into a smooth ball and roll it in the bowl to oil all sides.
    — Los Angeles Times, 4 Apr. 2020
  • Lightly oil a large bowl, place the dough in the bowl and turn to coat with oil.
    — Washington Post, 24 May 2017
  • Don't use water on raw or oiled wood surfaces.
    — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 22 May 2026
  • Lightly oil a large bowl; form dough into a ball and place in bowl.
    — Claire Saffitz, Bon Appetit, 17 Oct. 2017
  • Cook the steak Lightly oil the steaks and place on a hot grill.
    — Kelly McCarthy, ABC News, 26 May 2026
  • Once the pie plate is lined, lightly oil its surface and then set aside.
    — Washington Post, 22 Apr. 2021
  • The best way to oil your pan before cooking a steak is to not oil it at all.
    — Alex Delany, Bon Appetit, 28 Feb. 2017
  • Lightly oil a large baking sheet.
    — CBS News, 21 Nov. 2025
  • If your tofu sticks, the pan likely wasn’t hot enough (or oiled enough).
    — Claire Saffitz, Bon Appetit Magazine, 24 Feb. 2026
  • Heat the grill, covered, for 5 minutes, then clean and oil the grate.
    — Christopher Kimball, BostonGlobe.com, 22 Aug. 2023
  • The grill guy in front of me oils a thick slice of ciabatta and sets it down on the grates.
    — John Birdsall, Bon Appetit, 19 July 2017
  • Lightly oil the ears with 1⁄2 cup of the olive oil, then place them on the grill.
    — Lucy Buffett, NBC News, 9 May 2017
  • Heat the grill, covered, for 5 minutes, then clean and oil the grill grate.
    — BostonGlobe.com, 8 June 2021
  • Lightly oil the grate of the grill to prevent your salmon from sticking.
    — Angela Watson, chicagotribune.com, 5 Mar. 2021
  • One of the easiest ways to take care of your nails at home is by oiling them.
    — Alessandra Signorelli, Vogue, 29 June 2026
  • Soon Kim decides to turn up the heat on their shoot, and requests to be oiled up.
    — Mariah Smith, The Cut, 12 June 2017
  • Her ears were erect; the skin behind them was as soft as an ancient and well-oiled baseball mitt.
    — Jason Florio, Smithsonian, 22 May 2018
  • Spray or oil the pan, then press in the parchment paper so that there’s overhang on the two long sides.
    — Washington Post, 15 Dec. 2020
  • To oil the grates, keep a small bowl or container of vegetable oil beside the grill.
    — Nancy Stohs, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 29 May 2018
  • Once clean and hot, use tongs and a paper towel to thoroughly oil the grill grates or grill pan.
    — Robin Miller, The Arizona Republic, 14 June 2023
  • Then back by a slightly different route, past more hides and oiled walnut and blued steel.
    — John Madson, Outdoor Life, 1 July 2026
  • Don’t neglect to clean, sharpen and oil your pruners, Edmunds said.
    — oregonlive, 8 Nov. 2021
  • And the crazy part was the Photoshop part wasn’t the first lady oiled up and nude, right?
    — Recode Staff, Recode, 9 May 2018
  • Use them smooth-side up; despite a lot of advice on the internet, there's no need to oil them.
    — Robin Mather, chicagotribune.com, 6 June 2017
  • Rub a bowl with olive oil; put the dough in the bowl and oil the surface of the dough to prevent a crust from forming.
    — Deb Wandell, San Francisco Chronicle, 7 Oct. 2021
  • Then oil your hands again and play the piano on the soft dough, creating dimples all over, an inch apart or so.
    — Alex Beggs, Bon Appetit, 6 Mar. 2018

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'oil.' 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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