refuel

American  

[ree-fyoo-uhl] / riˈfyu əl /

verb (used with object)

refueled, refueling, refuelled, refuelling

1. to supply again with fuel.

   to refuel an airplane.

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verb (used without object)

refueled, refueling, refuelled, refuelling

1. to take on a fresh supply of fuel.

   The plane refueled at Paris and flew on.

refuel British  

/ riːˈfjuːəl /

verb

1. to supply or be supplied with fresh fuel

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Other Word Forms

• nonrefueling adjective
• nonrefuelling adjective
• refuelable adjective
• unrefueled adjective

Etymology

Origin of refuel

First recorded in 1805–15; re- + fuel

Example Sentences

As gas prices soared in California last month, Irvine resident Marc Tan realized his Mercedes SUV was getting too expensive to refuel.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 17, 2026

Vance, who has been dispatched by Trump to lead the US delegation, stopped briefly in Paris for his plane to refuel before flying on to Pakistan.

From Barron's • Apr. 11, 2026

One key feature is the ability to refuel in orbit.

From Science Daily • Apr. 3, 2026

During this nine-hour mission, the Typhoon and F-35 jet refuel seven times - taking on a total of 30 tonnes of aviation fuel.

From BBC • Mar. 30, 2026

Everybody helped refuel the planes by carrying cans from the trucks to the aircraft; the armorers had to carry the bombs out to the Po-2s by hand as well.

From "A Thousand Sisters" by Elizabeth Wein