# fuel up

CEFR B1 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/fuel-up
Updated: 2026-04-24

## Definition

to fill a vehicle's tank with gas or petrol so you can keep driving.

For teachers: to replenish the fuel supply of a vehicle or machine; often used intransitively or with a reflexive sense in casual contexts.

## Examples

- We need to fuel up before we hit the highway.
- The pilot decided to fuel up at the small regional airport before continuing the long flight across the desert.
- Logistics managers must ensure that every truck in the fleet has the opportunity to fuel up before the scheduled departure to avoid costly delays.

## Pitfalls

- Not "I need to fuel up the car with." but "I need to fuel up the car." — the verb 'fuel up' already implies the use of fuel, so adding 'with' at the end of the sentence is redundant.

## Usage notes

- commonly used for cars, planes, and boats, but can also figuratively mean eating a large meal.
- Teaching tip: point out that while 'fill up' is more common in general British English, 'fuel up' is frequently used in North America and in technical or transport-related contexts.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.