What does refueling mean?
Refueling means replenishing the supply of fuel in a vehicle, aircraft, or other fuel-consuming machine. It is both a noun naming the process and a verb describing the act of supplying fuel. In everyday use, it often refers to filling a car at a petrol or gasoline station, but it is especially prominent in aviation, where aircraft may refuel at an airport or, in some circumstances, while in flight. The word can also describe going to a station specifically to obtain fuel: an aircraft might make a refueling stop en route. Refueling is common in American English; British English generally spells it refuelling, although both spellings are understood. The term is practical and broadly neutral, carrying no strong positive or negative connotation beyond the routine maintenance implied by replenishing a machine's fuel.
The act or process of supplying a vehicle, aircraft, or other machine with fuel.
"Midair refueling allows some aircraft to remain in flight for much longer."
The process is commonly treated as uncountable, although refuelings is occasionally used in formal or technical contexts.
To supply a vehicle, aircraft, or other machine with fuel, especially to replenish an existing fuel supply.
"The airline refueled the plane before it departed."
The standard American spelling is refueling; British English generally uses refuelling.
Plural usage is uncommon because refueling is normally treated as an uncountable process noun; refuelings is mainly used when referring to separate instances.
"The two refuelings were completed before the aircraft departed."
Aircraft can refuel while airborne, allowing a long journey without a stop on the ground.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does refueling come from?
Refueling was formed by combining the prefix re-, meaning again, with fuel and the present-participle ending -ing. The verb refuel similarly means to supply with fuel again. Fuel ultimately comes through Old French from a word related to fouler, meaning to stuff or pack full, reflecting fuel's older sense of material used to feed a fire.
Related word forms
How refueling is actually used
Refueling is especially associated with automobiles and aircraft. American English normally uses one l, while British English generally uses two: refuelling. The noun is often used as an uncountable process noun, as in midair refueling or a refueling stop.
Easily confused with refueling
Refueling is the standard spelling in American English, while refuelling is the conventional British spelling.
Refueling means adding fuel, whereas defueling means removing fuel from a vehicle or machine.