# gasoline

/ˈɡæsəˌɫin/ (US) · /ɡˈæsəlˌiːn/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/gasoline
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. motor fuel

noun · CEFR A2 · American English

a liquid made from oil that is used as fuel for cars and trucks.

For teachers: a refined petroleum product used as a fuel for internal combustion engines. Uncountable in its general sense.

- We need to stop at the next station because the car is almost out of gasoline.
- The sudden spike in gasoline prices forced many logistics companies to reconsider their long-distance shipping routes for the coming quarter.

Usage: Commonly shortened to 'gas' in everyday American speech.

### 2. high-quality marijuana

noun · CEFR C2 · Slang · American English

a slang term for very strong or high-quality marijuana.

For teachers: a slang term referring to potent or high-grade cannabis, often characterized by a pungent, fuel-like aroma.

- He claimed he had some gasoline, but it wasn't actually that strong.
- In certain urban subcultures, the term gasoline is frequently used to denote the highest tier of product available on the market.

Teaching tip: This is highly informal and specific to drug culture; learners should avoid using it in general conversation.

### 3. powered by gasoline

adjective · CEFR B1 · American English

describes something that uses gasoline to work.

For teachers: relating to or powered by gasoline; typically used as an attributive adjective before a noun.

- The city is replacing its gasoline buses with new electric ones.
- The transition from gasoline engines to hybrid systems represents a significant shift in automotive engineering priorities.

## Examples

- The car is almost out of gasoline.
- The price of gasoline rose sharply this week due to a shortage at the local refinery.
- As global demand for energy shifts toward renewable sources, the long-term economic stability of nations dependent on gasoline exports remains a subject of intense debate among policy analysts.

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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.