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
The Permian is unique in that producers typically underwrite drilling there based on oil prices, and not the gas that they unearth in the process.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 21, 2026
Matador Resources last month touted big savings achieved by using gas from its own wells, rather than purchased fuel, to run equipment at a drilling site.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 21, 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
There were sounds from inside that came clearly even over the storm and the rage of the water: hammering, drilling, a turbinelike whine.
From "The Book of Dust: La Belle Sauvage" by Philip Pullman
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.
