fuel

SayFYOO-uhlUS/ˈfjuəl//ˈfjuːəl/

Pluralfuels

4 meanings of fuel

1
energy sourcenouncountable or uncountable
Something like coal, gasoline, or food that is used up to give energy.
Like the wood you put on a fire to keep it burning.
The rocket needs a lot of fuel to reach space.
They ran out of fuel halfway up the mountain.
UsageUsually no a: run out of fuel. Fuels means kinds of fuel.
2
make growverbtransitive
To make something grow bigger or stronger, often a problem or a bad feeling.
Low wages fuel anger among the workers.
The rumors fueled fear across the whole town.
UsageOften used with feelings or talk: fuel anger, fuel fears, fuel rumors.
Similarstoke, feed, inflame, intensify, fan
Oppositedampen, quell, defuse
3
supply energyverbtransitive
To put fuel into something so it can run or burn.
Like filling a car's tank with gas.
Workers fuel the planes before each flight.
She fueled the generator with diesel before the storm.
Similarfeed, stoke
4
nounfigurativelyuncountable
Something that makes a feeling or action grow stronger or keeps it going.
Like adding more wood to a fire to make it bigger.
His rude comment was just fuel for their anger.
The crowd's cheering gave the team fresh fuel to keep fighting.
UsageSay fuel for something. Add fuel to the fire means make a bad thing worse.
Similarfodder, ammunition, stimulus, spur, impetus

Practice

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Origin

It comes from an Old French word meaning firewood, based on the word for fire.

Checked 5 Nov 2026 · 3 facts

Fuel comes from an Old French word. en.wiktionary.org
That Old French word meant firewood. en.wiktionary.org
That word was based on the word for fire. en.wiktionary.org