# fuel

/ˈfjuəɫ/ (US) · /fjˈuːəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/fuel
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. energy source

noun · CEFR B1

a substance like wood, coal, gas, or oil that people burn to get heat or power.

For teachers: a substance consumed to provide energy through combustion, chemical, or nuclear reaction.

- The car ran out of fuel on the way to the airport.
- The government is investing heavily in hydrogen as a sustainable fuel to power heavy industry and long-distance transport.

### 2. figurative encouragement

noun · CEFR B2

something that makes a feeling or a situation stronger or more active.

For teachers: something that stimulates, maintains, or encourages an action or emotion.

- The latest news added fuel to the argument between the two neighbors.
- The leaked documents provided further fuel for the public's growing distrust of the administration's environmental policies.

### 3. to provide energy

verb · CEFR B1

to supply a vehicle or machine with the energy it needs to work.

For teachers: to provide a machine, vehicle, or system with a source of energy.

- The plane was being fueled while the passengers waited at the gate.
- The facility is fueled entirely by renewable energy sources, including solar panels and wind turbines located on the roof.

### 4. to make a situation worse

verb · CEFR B2

to make a bad situation, a feeling, or a rumor grow or become more intense.

For teachers: to exacerbate or cause a feeling or situation to become more intense or widespread.

- His angry comments only fueled the tension in the room.
- The lack of official information from the company only served to fuel speculation about its impending bankruptcy.

## Examples

- The car ran out of fuel on the highway.
- Wood is still the primary fuel used for cooking and heating in many rural communities around the world.
- The leaked documents provided fresh fuel for the ongoing debate regarding government transparency and the ethical implications of mass surveillance.

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