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Synonyms

drilling

1 American  
[dril-ing] / ˈdrɪl ɪŋ /

noun

  1. the act of a person or thing that drills. drill.

drilling 2 American  
[dril-ing] / ˈdrɪl ɪŋ /

noun

  1. drill.

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.

Analysts say the best land for drilling has already been tapped.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

A previous report described bees drilling into human bones, but not simply occupying natural cavities like these.

From Science Daily • Apr. 3, 2026

Tolkan was also well known for drilling Maverick and Goose with swift reprimands and tough love between puffs of his cigar as their commanding officer, Tom “Stinger” Jardian, in the 1986 blockbuster “Top Gun.”

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 30, 2026

It’s still early days in the exploratory push, and actual drilling on new land acquisitions could be years away, Fryklund noted.

From Barron's • Mar. 26, 2026

The Ares cabin was on the front line, drilling in phalanx formation with Clarisse calling orders.

From "The Battle of the Labyrinth" by Rick Riordan

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.