drilling
1 Americannoun
noun
Etymology
Origin of drilling1
First recorded in 1615–25; drill 1 + -ing 1
Origin of drilling2
1630–40; alteration of German Drillich, itself alteration of Latin trilīx triple-twilled ( German dri- three- replacing Latin tri- )
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
While its emissions are lower, drilling and extracting it causes the leakage of methane, a powerful greenhouse gas and the main component of natural gas.
From Barron's ● Jul. 25, 2026
America’s most prolific drilling region finds itself on the brink of being trapped between an uptick in drilling in response to rising energy prices and not enough ways to get product to market.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 21, 2026
Find insight on drilling rigs, crude futures, Woodside Energy and more in the latest Market Talks covering energy and utilities.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 19, 2026
The Financial Times reported he could ease restrictions on oil and gas drilling in the North Sea to reduce energy bills.
From Barron's ● Jul. 18, 2026
We spent almost an entire week drilling on the solar array alone.
From "The Martian" by Andy Weir
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
