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

One key feature is the ability to refuel in orbit.

From Science Daily • Apr. 3, 2026

“Airlines will refuel where they can, at the cheapest source,” Fyall said.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 28, 2026

There's a steady stream of customers pulling in to refuel, but Raven isn't as happy about that as you'd expect.

From BBC • Mar. 13, 2026

KC-135s are some of the oldest model tankers in use by the military and are used to refuel other aircrafts midair.

From Salon • Mar. 13, 2026

But pretty soon, he and G’ma are stopping to refuel the RV and to go number two—nobody wants to empty that from the tank—in Birmingham, Alabama.

From "Clean Getaway" by Nic Stone