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 SpaceX has a lot more to accomplish with Starship before then, including more than one orbital flight, refueling in low-Earth orbit and an uncrewed test landing on the moon, writes Science’s Michael Greshko. Will Sullivan, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 Mar. 2024 And because SpaceX intends to eventually refuel its Starship spacecraft while in orbit, the company also attempted to transfer propellant on this flight from one tank to another. Christian Davenport, Washington Post, 14 Mar. 2024 Be sure to refuel with a meal at Verde, the museum's onsite casual eatery overlooking Biscayne Bay. Jessica Poitevien, Travel + Leisure, 4 Mar. 2024 After his crew chief was severely wounded amid heavy gunfire at low altitudes, General Bahnsen evacuated him, refueled and rearmed. Michael S. Rosenwald, New York Times, 4 Mar. 2024 Okada’s early start has helped win contracts from five governments, including a $25.5 million deal with the US Space Force to design a satellite that can refuel other satellites in space. Min Jeong Lee, Fortune, 22 Feb. 2024 And the issue can be more urgent for EV drivers because recharging takes longer than refueling at gas pumps, which so far remain more pervasive than charging stations in much of the U.S. Batteries in your EV do degrade over time, just like your smartphone. Emily Pandise, NBC News, 18 Jan. 2024 The History of the Hot Brown The dish originated in the 1920s, when flocks of patrons gathered to refuel at the hotel restaurant following The Brown’s popular dinner dances, which drew 1,200 guests nightly. Robin Roenker, Southern Living, 6 Mar. 2024 The project aimed to refuel the aging Landsat-7 Earth observation satellite and demonstrate in-space manufacturing technology. George Dvorsky / Gizmodo, Quartz, 4 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'refuel.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1811, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of refuel was in 1811

Dictionary Entries Near refuel

Cite this Entry

“Refuel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/refuel. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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