refill
REE-fil
/ˈriː.fɪl/
An additional filling of a drink container after its initial contents have been consumed.
Often associated with customer self-service fountains or complimentary beverage policies in diners.
The story behind the word. Constructed from the Latin prefix 're-' (again) and Old English 'fyllan' (to make full). Free refills became a signature feature of mid-century American dining, enabled by the extremely low wholesale cost of carbonated soft drink syrups.
Word relationships
- top-up: 'Top-up' is the preferred British English equivalent for adding more drink to a partially filled glass.
- drain: 'Drain' means to completely empty liquid out of a container.
Commonly confused with
- replenish: Replenish means restoring stock or supply in a broad sense, whereas refill refers specifically to pouring more liquid into a cup or vessel.
Word family
- refillable (adjective): Capable of being filled multiple times.
Collocations
- free refill
- soda refill
- get a refill
- refill station
Example sentences
- "Before leaving the dining room, she went back to the fountain station for a free refill of lemonade." Getting more soda at a self-serve fountain.
- "The waiter noticed my empty glass and offered a warm coffee refill." Asking staff for beverage service.
Memory hook
RE-fill means to fill up AGAIN. Filling your empty cup back up.
When not to use
Do not use for initial orders or solid food items that must be repurchased.
Fun facts
- Free drink refills were introduced in North America to build customer loyalty when soft drink syrup costs dropped in the 1960s.
- Some European countries prohibit free soda refills by law to discourage excess sugar consumption.
Related words
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