oily
gb/ˈɔɪli/ us/ˈɔɪli/
B1
English
Senses
0 senses
adjective
B1
property
1
covered with oil; greasy
having a lot of oil on it, so it feels greasy
Usage pattern:
[something] is oily
Common mistake:
Don’t use oily to mean only ‘shiny’; it usually implies an unpleasant greasy feel.
Synonyms
greasy (Most common synonym; strongly suggests unpleasant oil.)
|
slick (Emphasizes slipperiness or shine.)
|
fatty (Often used for food; focuses on fat content.)
Antonyms
dry (No oil or grease on the surface.)
|
non-greasy (Specifically says it does not feel greasy.)
Collocations
oily hands
|oily fingers
|oily surface
|oily stain
|oily residue
|oily rag
|oily mess
|oily film
|oily patch
|oily smell
Themes
daily_life
|food
|cleaning
Examples
- The pan was still oily even after I washed it.
- He wiped his oily hands on a paper towel.
- There was an oily film on the water near the dock.
Learner examples
- My hair feels oily today.
- The floor is oily and slippery.
adjective
B1
property
2
skin or hair producing excess oil
having too much natural oil (especially skin or hair)
Usage pattern:
oily [skin/hair/scalp/complexion]
Common mistake:
Oily (skin) is different from sweaty; sweat is water-based, oil is not.
Synonyms
greasy (Often used informally for oily hair or skin.)
|
shiny (Focuses on appearance rather than the oily feel.)
Antonyms
dry (Lacking natural moisture and oil.)
|
matte (Not shiny; often used in skincare/makeup contexts.)
Collocations
oily skin
|oily hair
|oily scalp
|oily forehead
|oily complexion
|oily T-zone
|oily roots
|oily acne-prone skin
|oily shine
|oily moisturizer
Themes
health
|beauty
|body
Examples
- My forehead gets oily by the afternoon.
- She uses a gentle cleanser for oily skin.
- His hair looks oily if he skips a day of shampoo.
Learner examples
- I have oily skin.
- My hair becomes oily quickly.
adjective
B1
property
3
containing too much oil (food)
with too much oil, especially in food
Usage pattern:
oily [food/dish/sauce]
Common mistake:
For food, oily is usually negative; ‘rich’ can be more positive in some contexts.
Synonyms
greasy (More strongly negative and very common for food.)
|
fatty (Focuses on fat content rather than surface oil.)
|
heavy (Often about how the food feels to eat/digest.)
Antonyms
light (Not greasy; easier to eat.)
|
low-fat (Describes reduced fat content (not exactly the same as oiliness).)
Collocations
oily food
|oily fries
|oily pizza
|oily noodles
|oily sauce
|oily dressing
|oily takeaway
|oily aftertaste
Themes
food
|restaurants
Examples
- The chips were tasty but a bit oily.
- I try to avoid oily foods late at night.
- That sauce tastes oily and bland.
Learner examples
- This food is too oily.
- The pizza was oily.
adjective
C1
property
4
unpleasantly smooth and flattering
too polite in a way that feels fake
Usage pattern:
an oily [smile/voice/manner]
Common mistake:
This meaning describes behavior, not something literally with oil.
Synonyms
smarmy (Very common and strongly negative; implies fake friendliness.)
|
unctuous (More formal; emphasizes excessive, fake politeness.)
|
ingratiating (Focuses on trying to gain approval or favor.)
Antonyms
sincere (Genuine rather than flattering for advantage.)
|
straightforward (Direct and not overly flattering.)
Collocations
oily smile
|oily voice
|oily manner
|oily charm
|oily compliments
|oily salesman
Themes
emotions
|communication
|work
Examples
- He greeted us with an oily smile that made me suspicious.
- Her oily compliments didn’t fool anyone in the room.
- The caller had an oily voice and kept pushing a deal.
Learner examples
- He gave an oily smile.
Grammar
Dictionary form
oily
IPA
GB/ˈɔɪli/
US/ˈɔɪli/
Syllables & stress
oily (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (oily)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: oily
- Comparative: oilier
- Superlative: oiliest
Word family
Forms
oilier
adjective
oiliest
adjective
Core family
oil
noun A2
Related words
oiliness
noun
Negative and opposite forms
non-oily
adjective
Expressions
like an oily rag
1/lˈaɪk ən ˈɔɪli ɹˈæɡ/
idiom
informal
very dirty and greasy
very dirty and messy-looking
Examples
- After the long trip, we all looked like an oily rag.
- You can’t go to the interview looking like an oily rag.
oily rag
1/ˈɔɪli ɹˈæɡ/
fixed phrase
cloth soaked with oil
a cloth with oil on it, used for cleaning or polishing
Examples
- He wiped the tools with an oily rag to stop them rusting.
- Put oily rags in a sealed metal container to reduce fire risk.