fuel
Americannoun
-
combustible matter used to maintain fire, as coal, wood, oil, or gas, in order to create heat or power.
-
something that gives nourishment; food.
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an energy source for engines, power plants, or reactors.
Kerosene is used as jet engine fuel.
-
something that sustains or encourages; stimulant.
Our discussion provided him with fuel for debate.
- Synonyms:
- stimulus, impetus, sustenance, ammunition
verb (used with object)
verb (used without object)
noun
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any substance burned as a source of heat or power, such as coal or petrol
-
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the material, containing a fissile substance, such as uranium-235, that produces energy in a nuclear reactor
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a substance that releases energy in a fusion reactor
-
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something that nourishes or builds up emotion, action, etc
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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nonfueladjective
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well-fueledadjective
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defuelverb (used with object)
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fuellernoun
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unfueledadjective
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fuelernoun
Conjugated Forms
Present
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has fuelledperfect 3rd person singular
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have fueledperfect
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have fuelledperfect
-
has fueledperfect 3rd person singular
-
have been fuelingperfect progressive
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am fuelingprogressive 1st person singular
-
has been fuelingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
-
has been fuellingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
-
are fuellingprogressive
-
am fuellingprogressive 1st person singular
-
fuelssingular 3rd person
-
fuelingparticiple
-
are fuelingprogressive
-
have been fuellingperfect progressive
-
is fuelingprogressive 3rd person singular
-
fuellingparticiple
-
is fuellingprogressive 3rd person singular
Past
-
had fuelledperfect
-
had fueledperfect
-
was fuellingprogressive singular
-
was fuelingprogressive singular
-
were fuellingprogressive plural
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fuelledsimple
-
fueledsimple
-
had been fuellingperfect progressive
-
fueledparticiple
-
were fuelingprogressive plural
-
had been fuelingperfect progressive
-
fuelledparticiple
Future
Etymology
Origin of fuel
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English feuel, fuel(le), from Old French feuaile, from Vulgar Latin focālia (unrecorded), neuter plural of focālis (unrecorded) “of the hearth, fuel,” from Latin focus “hearth” ( see focus) + -ālis -al 1
Explanation
What do you and your car have in common? You both run on fuel. Whether its gasoline or nutritious food, fuel produces energy to get up and go. Fuel can also act as a verb that has several different meanings, all related to stimulating something or providing energy. Your brother might fuel up on whole-wheat bread with peanut butter a few hours before a big game. A teacher assigns readings to fuel meaningful class discussion. Memories of your mom's delicious dinners might fuel your desire to learn to cook.
Vocabulary lists containing fuel
Word Generation Science - Energy
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Engineering - Introductory
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Chemical Reactions - Introductory
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The results, published in Fuel, showed major improvements over conventional oil burning techniques.
From Science Daily • Jun. 5, 2026
Fuel is one of the biggest cost components that we have.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 1, 2026
About nine million pensioners also got the Winter Fuel Payment in 2025/2026, worth £200 or £300, after a government U-turn over eligibility.
From BBC • May 27, 2026
Fuel is generally among the biggest expenses for airlines and cruise-ship companies.
From MarketWatch • May 27, 2026
Fuel your ambition with assertive foods was his message some time last month.
From "Saints and Misfits" by S.K. Ali
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
