fuel
noun
combustible matter used to maintain fire, as coal, wood, oil, or gas, in order to create heat or power.
Used to describe an action that was ongoing continuously in the past up until another past event interrupted it.
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Local journalist Yusuf Ali Abdallah, who has covered the mass weddings for years, said Nigeria's struggling economy had been fuelling desperation among the applicants this year.
From BBC ● Aug. 9, 2026