often attributive
1
a
: a material used to produce heat or power by burning
b
: nutritive material
c
: a material from which atomic energy can be liberated especially in a reactor
2
: a source of sustenance or incentive : reinforcement
fueled or fuelled; fueling or fuelling
1
: to provide with fuel
: to take in fuel
—often used with up
Synonyms
Examples of fuel in a Sentence
Noun
I had the fuel pump replaced on my car.
These latest scandals will provide further fuel for his political opponents.
These latest accusations will only add fuel to the controversy.
The controversy continues to rage, and these latest accusations will only add fuel to the fire.
Verb
The airplanes were fueled in midair.
The criticism she has faced has only fueled her determination to succeed.
Inflation was fueled by high prices.
The strong economy has fueled the construction of new homes.
Recent Examples on the Web
USA TODAY, 24 Apr. 2024
The hybrid-electric propulsion system, developed in partnership with German outfit Torqeedo, uses less fuel than conventional diesel-only setups.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 23 Apr. 2024
And because members of nonstate groups often rely on the same sources as ordinary civilians for food, fuel, and money, these areas of the economy that are essential to civilian life are regularly in the direct line of fire.
—Oona A. Hathaway, Foreign Affairs, 23 Apr. 2024
The tank held close to three hours of fuel when full.
—Susan Tate Ankeny, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 Apr. 2024
In the winter of 1944–45, the Germans had cut off heating fuel and food for much of the country, and some 20,000 people had starved to death.
—Adam Hochschild, The Atlantic, 23 Apr. 2024
Building the nation's industrial sector away from fossil fuel combustion could potentially include zero-carbon fuels, such as hydrogen or ammonia, and low-carbon fuels, such as biofuels made from plant waste or algae, according to the agency.
—Leah Sarnoff, ABC News, 22 Apr. 2024
Energy stocks often do well when the economy is strong, since there’s more energy demand to fuel goods- and services production.
—Krystal Hur, CNN, 12 Apr. 2024
The new software will trigger a dashboard warning light and Ford will extend warranty coverage for the defective fuel injectors, so owners will be able to get free replacements.
—William Gavin, Quartz, 12 Apr. 2024
Ryan Ballogg, Miami Herald, 26 Apr. 2024
The ubiquitous nature of plastics — a worthy contender for the most useful innovation of all time — fueled by their low-cost production means plastics will be around for a long time, especially in low-income countries that almost always have poor waste management infrastructure.
—Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 26 Apr. 2024
The economy did slow in the first three months of the year, the government reported Thursday, but consumers continued to fuel growth with their steady spending.
—Christopher Rugaber, Fortune, 26 Apr. 2024
Starting the fire, waiting for the fire to properly break down, maintaining temperatures, and fueling the pit (depending on the size) every 45 minutes to an hour takes a lot of time out of your day.
—Carrie Honaker, Southern Living, 26 Apr. 2024
Israel-Hamas War: TikTok has been dogged for months by accusations that its app has shown a disproportionate amount of pro-Palestinian and antisemitic content to users, helping fuel the debate over the House bill.
—Peter Baker, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2024
Now, the duo is fueling the Kansas City Royals’ pitching renaissance.
—Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 25 Apr. 2024
In a new series, USA TODAY’s The Essentials, celebrities share what fuels their lives.
—Erin Jensen, USA TODAY, 25 Apr. 2024
His decision to expand his vision of hospitality was fueled by his desire to share the beauty of the surrounding terroir.
—Monica Mendal, Vogue, 24 Apr. 2024
Noun
Notification letters are scheduled to be sent to owners about the recall on June 18, the NHTSA said, and dealers will inspect and replace the fuel pump assembly at no cost.
—USA TODAY, 24 Apr. 2024
The hybrid-electric propulsion system, developed in partnership with German outfit Torqeedo, uses less fuel than conventional diesel-only setups.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 23 Apr. 2024
And because members of nonstate groups often rely on the same sources as ordinary civilians for food, fuel, and money, these areas of the economy that are essential to civilian life are regularly in the direct line of fire.
—Oona A. Hathaway, Foreign Affairs, 23 Apr. 2024
The tank held close to three hours of fuel when full.
—Susan Tate Ankeny, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 Apr. 2024
In the winter of 1944–45, the Germans had cut off heating fuel and food for much of the country, and some 20,000 people had starved to death.
—Adam Hochschild, The Atlantic, 23 Apr. 2024
Building the nation's industrial sector away from fossil fuel combustion could potentially include zero-carbon fuels, such as hydrogen or ammonia, and low-carbon fuels, such as biofuels made from plant waste or algae, according to the agency.
—Leah Sarnoff, ABC News, 22 Apr. 2024
Energy stocks often do well when the economy is strong, since there’s more energy demand to fuel goods- and services production.
—Krystal Hur, CNN, 12 Apr. 2024
The new software will trigger a dashboard warning light and Ford will extend warranty coverage for the defective fuel injectors, so owners will be able to get free replacements.
—William Gavin, Quartz, 12 Apr. 2024
Verb
Nutrients from stormwater runoff, lawn fertilizers, grass clippings, leaky septic tanks and municipal sewage spills can help fuel harmful algal blooms like Lyngbya and red tide.
—Ryan Ballogg, Miami Herald, 26 Apr. 2024
The ubiquitous nature of plastics — a worthy contender for the most useful innovation of all time — fueled by their low-cost production means plastics will be around for a long time, especially in low-income countries that almost always have poor waste management infrastructure.
—Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 26 Apr. 2024
The economy did slow in the first three months of the year, the government reported Thursday, but consumers continued to fuel growth with their steady spending.
—Christopher Rugaber, Fortune, 26 Apr. 2024
Starting the fire, waiting for the fire to properly break down, maintaining temperatures, and fueling the pit (depending on the size) every 45 minutes to an hour takes a lot of time out of your day.
—Carrie Honaker, Southern Living, 26 Apr. 2024
Israel-Hamas War: TikTok has been dogged for months by accusations that its app has shown a disproportionate amount of pro-Palestinian and antisemitic content to users, helping fuel the debate over the House bill.
—Peter Baker, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2024
Now, the duo is fueling the Kansas City Royals’ pitching renaissance.
—Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 25 Apr. 2024
In a new series, USA TODAY’s The Essentials, celebrities share what fuels their lives.
—Erin Jensen, USA TODAY, 25 Apr. 2024
His decision to expand his vision of hospitality was fueled by his desire to share the beauty of the surrounding terroir.
—Monica Mendal, Vogue, 24 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'fuel.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near fuel
Cite this Entry
“Fuel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fuel. Accessed 29 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
fuel
1 of 2 noun
fu·el
ˈfyü(-ə)l 
1
a
: a material used to produce heat or power by burning
b
: a material from which atomic energy can be produced especially in a reactor
2
: a source of energy
fuel
2 of 2 verb
fueled or fuelled; fueling or fuelling
: to supply with or take in fuel
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