What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
wells
Example
The village relies on the well for their drinking water. [well: noun]
Example
We need to dig a well in our backyard to water the plants. [well: verb]
borehole
Example
The geologist drilled a borehole to study the rock formations. [borehole: noun]
Example
The company is planning to drill a borehole to extract oil from the ground. [borehole: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Wells are more common than boreholes, especially in rural areas where they are used for accessing drinking water and irrigation. Boreholes are more commonly used in industrial or scientific contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between wells and borehole?
Both words are relatively formal and technical, but borehole is more specialized and may be less familiar to non-experts.
