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.
To refuel, try Lot 12 Public House. Staff Author, Travel + Leisure, 20 Oct. 2025 The missions were carried out by 83 separate aircraft, including intelligence-gathering planes and tankers used to refuel jets in midair. Natasha Bertrand, CNN Money, 19 Oct. 2025 In some cases, aircraft crews unloaded aid in near-darkness, refueled and immediately switched to evacuation runs. Jesus Mesa, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Oct. 2025 The plane was refuelling in Germany after flying from Belgrade. Michael Walker, New York Times, 11 Oct. 2025 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Refuel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/refuel. Accessed 21 Oct. 2025.

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
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!