replenish
Americanverb (used with object)
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replenishes,
present (3rd person singular)
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replenished,
past participle, past
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replenishing
present participle
-
to make full or complete again, as by supplying what is lacking, used up, etc..
to replenish one's stock of food.
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to supply (a fire, stove, etc.) with fresh fuel.
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to fill again or anew.
verb
-
to make full or complete again by supplying what has been used up or is lacking
-
to put fresh fuel on (a fire)
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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replenishsimple
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replenishessimple
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have replenishedperfect
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has replenishedperfect
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am replenishingprogressive
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are replenishingprogressive
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is replenishingprogressive
-
have been replenishingperfect progressive
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has been replenishingperfect progressive
Past
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replenishedsimple
-
had replenishedperfect
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was replenishingprogressive
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were replenishingprogressive
-
had been replenishingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of replenish
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English replenisshen, from Middle French repleniss-, long stem of replenir “to fill,” Old French, equivalent to re- re- + plenir “to fill” (derivative of plein, from Latin plēnus full 1 )
Explanation
To replenish something is to refill it. If you have a pet pooch, you’re probably obligated to replenish his food bowl to avoid being barked at incessantly. Use replenish when talking about something valuable or desirable, such as money or food. For example, you might discuss replenishing your bank account, but you wouldn’t speak of replenishing a trash can. You can also use replenish in a joking way to show that something is of value to you; by noting that the jar of jellybeans on your desk needs to be replenished, you indicate that you require jellybeans to survive your day at the office. We get that.
Vocabulary lists containing replenish
100 Words Every Middle Schooler Should Know
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Essential Academic Vocabulary for Middle School Students, List 5
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The Hobbit
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
The proposed model suggests that, following a giant eruption, new magma can gradually enter and replenish an existing underground reservoir.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 23, 2026
I was able to replenish the funds distributed from my retirement plan on a pretax basis, in addition to making my regular contributions.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 23, 2026
Snowpack in the Upper Rio Grande basin, which helps replenish the river, fell to near-record lows last winter, and in July Elephant Butte reservoir dwindled to 1.4% of its original capacity.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 21, 2026
If your beautiful vintage tureen doesn’t have a heat source, fill it in smaller batches and replenish from soup held hot on the stove.
From Salon ● Oct. 20, 2026
I’m out of dough, besides, and need to replenish my supply.
From "Better Nate Than Ever" by Tim Federle
"But then these lines reconnect and the Sun replenishes the lost energy back within hours," he adds.
From BBC ● Aug. 14, 2026
It could also test whether frequent comet activity replenishes the dust, a process studied by Steward researcher Virginie Faramaz-Gorka, who is also a co-author on the paper.
From Science Daily ● Dec. 17, 2025
In August, Walmart said that as it replenishes inventory at tariff prices, it has continued to see costs increase each week, which it expects to continue through the end of the year.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 13, 2025
The distiller there already replenishes more water than it uses in some areas and promotes drip irrigation that protects the soil and increases the crop yield.
From Seattle Times ● Jun. 9, 2023
He rewards them for their kindness with a basket full of fresh bread and butter that magically replenishes itself and a hollow stone with a flame inside that never burns out.
From "How to Disappear Completely" by Ali Standish
We gather around my kitchen counter and they nibble, sip and chat while I keep a plate replenished.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 4, 2026
Drought will only be declared as over once reservoirs, rivers and groundwater stocks are replenished.
From BBC ● Aug. 21, 2026
“Pumping more groundwater than is sustainably replenished is not only negligent, but dangerous to the American Desert Southwest,” he said in the joint statement with other opponents of the project.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 10, 2026
All of that helped to keep physical oil supply shortages at a minimum, even as global inventories have declined and need to be replenished.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 18, 2026
His stomach full, his energy replenished, his mind thankful for a few moments of silence, he decided that from then on he’d quit whining and deal with things.
From "The Maze Runner" by James Dashner
"For the freshwater consumed by non-cooling facility needs, Google is committed to replenishing 120 percent of the volume we consume across our operations by 2030," he added.
From Barron's ● Oct. 11, 2026
Slow waves are a major feature of deep sleep -- the stage associated with physical recovery, replenishing energy reserves, and maintaining healthy brain function.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 22, 2026
It would also have to cover things like paying for vacations, replenishing an emergency fund if it’s been tapped, and setting aside money in a health savings or college account.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 15, 2026
We’re meant to understand this as a kind of replenishing.
From Salon ● Sep. 3, 2026
The IV bag contained a solution of lactose; such a procedure was a common method of replenishing depleted body fluids.
From "Friday Night Lights: A Town, A Team, And A Dream" by H.G. Bissinger
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
