replenish

1 of 2

verb

re·​plen·​ish ri-ˈple-nish 

replenished; replenishing; replenishes

transitive verb

1

: to fill or build up again

replenish a supply of fuel

… London's population was continually being replenished with recruits from the countryside …

—Barbara A. Hanawalt

… most of her income will be used to replenish the family's almost-depleted savings.

—Louis Uchitelle

… the fields are rotated every three years with other crops … so that the soil can replenish itself and remain nitrogen rich.

—Eugenia Bone

Apparently, animals sleep to regulate body temperature, organize memories and replenish the immune system …

—Sandra Blakeslee

2

a

: to fill with persons or animals

… be fruitful and multiply and replenish the earth …

—Genesis 1:28 (Authorized Version)

b

: to fill with inspiration or power : nourish

… the American mind should cease to replenish itself with the mighty wonders of Europe …

—Van Wyck Brooks

c

archaic : to supply fully : perfect

… his hive had so long been replenished with honey …

—William Wordsworth

… the most replenished villain in the world …

—William Shakespeare

replenishable

ri-ˈple-ni-shə-bəl 

adjective

replenisher noun

replenishment

ri-ˈple-nish-mənt 

noun

replenisher

2 of 2

noun

re·​plen·​ish·​er

-shə(r)

plural -s

: one that replenishes

enormous deposits of marl or bog lime, a valuable soil replenisher

—American Guide Series: Minnesota

specifically : a chemical solution added to a photographic working solution (as a developer or fixing bath) for restoring or maintaining chemical activity

Examples of replenish in a Sentence

Verb

An efficient staff of workers replenished the trays of appetizers almost as quickly as guests emptied them.

He replenished his supply of wood in preparation for the winter.

Drink this—you need to replenish your fluids after your hike.

plants that replenish soil nutrients

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

While the bulk of her customers are adults, many of them also buy items for the kids in their lives, like a teacher buying clickers for their students, or a dental practice replenishing the toy box for kids who visit their office. —Jennifer Liu valentina Duarte, CNBC, 14 June 2026

For post-workout meals, sports nutritionists and physicians recommend combining carbohydrates and protein to replenish glycogen stores and support muscle repair. —Jacqueline Howard, CNN Money, 13 June 2026

The companies buying the barrels are pledging to replenish them. —Jordan Blum, Fortune, 12 June 2026

The solera method gradually blends older and younger sherries over decades in the barrel, creating consistency and complexity while continuously replenishing the system. —Emily Price, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English replenyssen, replenisshen "to fill, provide (with food and drink), populate," borrowed from Anglo-French repleniss-, stem of replenir "to fill, make full, refill" (also continental Old French), from re- re- + -plenir, verbal derivative of plein "full," going back to Latin plēnus — more at full entry 1

Note: In French this verb is apparently derived independently from plenir "to fill" (see plenish), which is attested later and in a very restricted geographical area. In Middle French replenir competed unsuccessfully with remplir, which effectually replaced it in Modern French.

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

replenish

verb

re·​plen·​ish ri-ˈplen-ish 

: to make full or complete once more

replenish a supply of fuel

replenisher noun

replenishment

-mənt 

noun