replenish
Americanverb (used with object)
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replenishes,
present (3rd person singular)
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replenished,
past participle, past
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replenishing
present participle
-
to make full or complete again, as by supplying what is lacking, used up, etc..
to replenish one's stock of food.
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to supply (a fire, stove, etc.) with fresh fuel.
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to fill again or anew.
verb
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to make full or complete again by supplying what has been used up or is lacking
-
to put fresh fuel on (a fire)
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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replenishsimple
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replenishessimple
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have replenishedperfect
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has replenishedperfect
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am replenishingprogressive
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are replenishingprogressive
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is replenishingprogressive
-
have been replenishingperfect progressive
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has been replenishingperfect progressive
Past
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replenishedsimple
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had replenishedperfect
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was replenishingprogressive
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were replenishingprogressive
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had been replenishingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of replenish
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English replenisshen, from Middle French repleniss-, long stem of replenir “to fill,” Old French, equivalent to re- re- + plenir “to fill” (derivative of plein, from Latin plēnus full 1 )
Explanation
To replenish something is to refill it. If you have a pet pooch, you’re probably obligated to replenish his food bowl to avoid being barked at incessantly. Use replenish when talking about something valuable or desirable, such as money or food. For example, you might discuss replenishing your bank account, but you wouldn’t speak of replenishing a trash can. You can also use replenish in a joking way to show that something is of value to you; by noting that the jar of jellybeans on your desk needs to be replenished, you indicate that you require jellybeans to survive your day at the office. We get that.
Vocabulary lists containing replenish
100 Words Every Middle Schooler Should Know
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Essential Academic Vocabulary for Middle School Students, List 5
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The Hobbit
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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.
See Examples For:
The supply squeeze has complicated Europe’s efforts to replenish gas inventories ahead of the heating season, leaving the region increasingly exposed to colder weather and renewed competition with Asian buyers for available cargoes.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 13, 2026
However, it raised its forecast for next year’s demand growth to 2.55 million barrels a day, from 2.36 million previously, driven in part by the need to replenish oil inventories depleted by the Iran war.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 13, 2026
“Tariffs are lower than the levels we saw earlier this year and last, giving importers more certainty on cost and allowing them to replenish inventories at a quicker rate.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 12, 2026
Canada offered support Thursday to boost Ukraine's air defenses and help replenish its drone stocks, as the countries pledged to deepen their alliance during a visit by President Volodymyr Zelensky.
From Barron's ● Sep. 10, 2026
For her services, Bibi received no income but was given meals, provisions, and sufficient meters of cotton at every October holiday to replenish her wardrobe at an inexpensive tailor.
From "Interpreter of Maladies" by Jhumpa Lahiri
"But then these lines reconnect and the Sun replenishes the lost energy back within hours," he adds.
From BBC ● Aug. 14, 2026
It could also test whether frequent comet activity replenishes the dust, a process studied by Steward researcher Virginie Faramaz-Gorka, who is also a co-author on the paper.
From Science Daily ● Dec. 17, 2025
“Because of opening up the water to flow out here, it just replenishes the water source,” Lomelí-Gil said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 20, 2024
The distiller there already replenishes more water than it uses in some areas and promotes drip irrigation that protects the soil and increases the crop yield.
From Seattle Times ● Jun. 9, 2023
He rewards them for their kindness with a basket full of fresh bread and butter that magically replenishes itself and a hollow stone with a flame inside that never burns out.
From "How to Disappear Completely" by Ali Standish
Drought will only be declared as over once reservoirs, rivers and groundwater stocks are replenished.
From BBC ● Aug. 21, 2026
A carrier can be replenished by stopping at ports, or getting deliveries from nearby ports by sea or air—all of which becomes more difficult in times of war.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026
“Pumping more groundwater than is sustainably replenished is not only negligent, but dangerous to the American Desert Southwest,” he said in the joint statement with other opponents of the project.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 10, 2026
All of that helped to keep physical oil supply shortages at a minimum, even as global inventories have declined and need to be replenished.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 18, 2026
She was replenished by the same thing that amused my dad.
From "Everything Sad Is Untrue" by Daniel Nayeri
Major retailers also are preparing for increased demand around the holidays and are stocking up and replenishing inventories, Seroka said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 12, 2026
"For the freshwater consumed by non-cooling facility needs, Google is committed to replenishing 120 percent of the volume we consume across our operations by 2030," he added.
From Barron's ● Oct. 11, 2026
It would also have to cover things like paying for vacations, replenishing an emergency fund if it’s been tapped, and setting aside money in a health savings or college account.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 15, 2026
We’re meant to understand this as a kind of replenishing.
From Salon ● Sep. 3, 2026
Bernabe was forever throwing away the osha that turned up almost daily in his pockets, and Carolina was forever replenishing the supply, and neither of them ever mentioned the matter to the other.
From "The Milagro Beanfield War" by John Nichols
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