internal combustion engine
noun
: a heat engine in which the combustion that generates the heat takes place inside the engine proper instead of in a furnace
Examples of internal combustion engine in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The moves are in direct conflict with U.S. and global climate policies, which aim to rapidly phase out the internal combustion engine and shift power grids worldwide to zero emissions energy.
—
Evan Halper, Washington Post, 11 Oct. 2023
Lee says the Arc One weighs about 6,500 pounds, only about 1,500 more pounds than some comparable internal combustion engine (ICE) models.
—IEEE Spectrum, 3 Oct. 2023
In order to stick to that 1.5 degree threshold, by 2030, large cities will have phased out internal combustion engine vehicles.
—Kate Aronoff, The New Republic, 29 Sep. 2023
Electric vehicles have outpaced growth of traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) cars in recent years.
—Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN, 28 Sep. 2023
Automakers have made electric vehicles central to their business strategies and are openly talking about an expiration date on the internal combustion engine.
—New York Times, 17 Aug. 2023
China has surpassed the United States in the manufacture of electric vehicles, whose mechanisms will eventually replace the internal combustion engine worldwide.
—Win McCormack, The New Republic, 10 Aug. 2023
Aside from the low tax, what makes Europe attractive is the bloc’s decision to ban the sale of new internal combustion engine cars by 2035.
—Laura He, CNN, 7 Sep. 2023
But this year, Ford is hyping an F-150 variant that might feel like a step back, not forward: the hybrid model with both an internal combustion engine and an electric motor, which only takes over for certain features and under certain driving conditions.
—Aarian Marshall, WIRED, 13 Sep. 2023
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Evan Halper, Washington Post, 11 Oct. 2023
Lee says the Arc One weighs about 6,500 pounds, only about 1,500 more pounds than some comparable internal combustion engine (ICE) models.
—IEEE Spectrum, 3 Oct. 2023
In order to stick to that 1.5 degree threshold, by 2030, large cities will have phased out internal combustion engine vehicles.
—Kate Aronoff, The New Republic, 29 Sep. 2023
Electric vehicles have outpaced growth of traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) cars in recent years.
—Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN, 28 Sep. 2023
Automakers have made electric vehicles central to their business strategies and are openly talking about an expiration date on the internal combustion engine.
—New York Times, 17 Aug. 2023
China has surpassed the United States in the manufacture of electric vehicles, whose mechanisms will eventually replace the internal combustion engine worldwide.
—Win McCormack, The New Republic, 10 Aug. 2023
Aside from the low tax, what makes Europe attractive is the bloc’s decision to ban the sale of new internal combustion engine cars by 2035.
—Laura He, CNN, 7 Sep. 2023
But this year, Ford is hyping an F-150 variant that might feel like a step back, not forward: the hybrid model with both an internal combustion engine and an electric motor, which only takes over for certain features and under certain driving conditions.
—Aarian Marshall, WIRED, 13 Sep. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'internal combustion engine.' 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
1884, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of internal combustion engine was
in 1884
Dictionary Entries Near internal combustion engine
Cite this Entry
“Internal combustion engine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/internal%20combustion%20engine. Accessed 4 Dec. 2023.
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Kids Definition
internal combustion engine
noun
: an engine in which the fuel is ignited within the engine cylinder instead of in an external furnace
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