often attributive
1
a
: a material used to produce heat or power by burning
b
: nutritive material
c
: a material from which atomic energy can be liberated especially in a reactor
2
: a source of sustenance or incentive : reinforcement
fueled or fuelled; fueling or fuelling
1
: to provide with fuel
: to take in fuel
—often used with up
Synonyms
Examples of fuel in a Sentence
Noun
I had the fuel pump replaced on my car.
These latest scandals will provide further fuel for his political opponents.
These latest accusations will only add fuel to the controversy.
The controversy continues to rage, and these latest accusations will only add fuel to the fire.
Verb
The airplanes were fueled in midair.
The criticism she has faced has only fueled her determination to succeed.
Inflation was fueled by high prices.
The strong economy has fueled the construction of new homes.
Recent Examples on the Web
Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 31 Jan. 2025
Workers at their two ports only load and unload containers onto ships and supply them with fuel.
—Patrick Oppmann, CNN, 31 Jan. 2025
Dennis Lin, The Athletic, 2 Feb. 2025
The sell-off was fueled by concerns that low-cost AI models could reduce demand for power-hungry data centers, a key market for Eaton.
—Paulina Likos, CNBC, 31 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for fuel 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
Salt can cause rust, which can damage equipment involving braking, steering, suspension and fuel systems, according to Consumer Reports.
—Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 31 Jan. 2025
Workers at their two ports only load and unload containers onto ships and supply them with fuel.
—Patrick Oppmann, CNN, 31 Jan. 2025
Verb
Unlike in 2023, when blockbuster acquisitions fueled a raucous atmosphere, the latest version was more muted because of notable absences.
—Dennis Lin, The Athletic, 2 Feb. 2025
The sell-off was fueled by concerns that low-cost AI models could reduce demand for power-hungry data centers, a key market for Eaton.
—Paulina Likos, CNBC, 31 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for fuel
Dictionary Entries Near fuel
Cite this Entry
“Fuel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fuel. Accessed 6 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
fuel
1 of 2 noun
fu·el
ˈfyü(-ə)l 
1
a
: a material used to produce heat or power by burning
b
: a material from which atomic energy can be produced especially in a reactor
2
: a source of energy
fuel
2 of 2 verb
fueled or fuelled; fueling or fuelling
: to supply with or take in fuel
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