refuel

verb

re·​fu·​el (ˌ)rē-ˈfyü(-ə)l How to pronounce refuel (audio)
refueled; refueling; refuels

transitive verb

: to provide with additional fuel

intransitive verb

: to take on additional fuel

Examples of refuel in a Sentence

The crew refueled the airplane. The airplane landed to refuel.
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.
People queue to refuel their cars at a Gazpromneft petrol station in Yaroslavl on July 15, 2026. — Sam Meredith, CNBC, 6 Aug. 2026 Its design targets better fuel utilization, higher burnup, longer refueling cycles, stronger safety margins, and reduced volumes of long-lived spent fuel for each unit of electricity generated. — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 4 Aug. 2026 Stop by eateries such as Sego Restaurant and Wild Thyme Bistro for seasonal, farm-to-table cuisine, the perfect way to refuel after a day in the driver’s seat. — Cu Fleshman, Travel + Leisure, 3 Aug. 2026 Saab was arrested in Cape Verde in 2020 while his plane stopped to refuel and was extradited to the United States in October 2021 to face federal money-laundering charges. — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 24 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for refuel

Word History

First Known Use

1811, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of refuel was in 1811

Rhymes for refuel

See All Rhymes for refuel

Browse Nearby Words

reft
refuel
refuge
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Refuel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/refuel. Accessed 8 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

refuel

verb
re·​fu·​el (ˈ)rē-ˈfyü-əl How to pronounce refuel (audio)
: to provide with or take on more fuel

More from Merriam-Webster on refuel

Nglish: Translation of refuel for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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