oasis

noun

oa·​sis ō-ˈā-səs How to pronounce oasis (audio)
plural oases ō-ˈā-ˌsēz How to pronounce oasis (audio)
Synonyms of oasisnext
1
: a fertile or green area in an arid region (such as a desert)
The caravan stopped to rest at an oasis.
2
: something that provides refuge, relief, or pleasant contrast
The small park is a welcome oasis amid the city's many factories.

Examples of oasis in a Sentence

The small park is a welcome oasis amid the city's many factories. Our brief trip to the beach was a much-needed oasis in a summer of hard work.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Turn your porch or patio into an oasis with the Bayou Breeze Cuccia Egg Chair that has ultra comfortable cushions and a curved frame that gives the feeling of being on vacation. — Shea Simmons, Southern Living, 20 Mar. 2025 Celestial Park will transform from a lush garden with dancing fountains by day into a glowing oasis filled with light, color and music at night. — Brady MacDonald, Orange County Register, 19 Mar. 2025 Preserved pollen grains and other spores told them about the diversity of plant life in the refugium, something like an oasis where there is food and water available, and environmental conditions are moderate enough to keep organisms surviving through natural disasters and other adverse conditions. — Elizabeth Rayne, Ars Technica, 18 Mar. 2025 Ahead, take a leisurely stroll through some of the best botanic gardens across the US, from the sandy stretches of the Sonoran Desert to an urban oasis in New York City. — Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 14 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for oasis

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Latin Oasis, referring to the Great Oasis of Kharge in the Libyan Desert of Egypt, borrowed from Greek Óasis (Herodotus), borrowed from Egyptian wḥꜢ.t "fertile area in the desert"

First Known Use

1613, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of oasis was in 1613

Rhymes for oasis

See All Rhymes for oasis

Browse Nearby Words

OASI
oasis
oasitic
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Oasis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/oasis. Accessed 8 Apr. 2025.

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Kids Definition

oasis

noun
oa·​sis ō-ˈā-səs How to pronounce oasis (audio)
plural oases -ˈā-ˌsēz How to pronounce oasis (audio)
1
: a fertile or green spot in a desert
2
: something or some place that provides refreshing relief

More from Merriam-Webster on oasis

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for oasis

Nglish: Translation of oasis for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about oasis

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