Meaning & use
refillable
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Meaning
adjectivebefore a noun
Made so that it can be filled again with the same kind of contents after it is empty.
Grammar: Usually comes before a noun: a refillable pen; it can also follow be.
Patterns
- refillable with something
She carries a refillable water bottle to work.
The shop sells refillable containers for soap.
This lighter is refillable, so you do not need to replace it.
Common combinations
- refillable bottle
- A refillable bottle cuts down on plastic.
- refillable cartridge
- The printer uses a refillable cartridge.
- refillable pen
- He prefers a refillable pen to a disposable one.
- refillable pack
- The refillable pack costs less than a new bottle.
- easily refillable
- The tank is easily refillable at home.
Synonyms and how they differ
- reusable
- Reusable is broader, as an item can be reused without being filled, such as a cloth bag.
- rechargeable
- Rechargeable refers to batteries and electric power, not liquids or contents.
- replenishable
- Replenishable is formal and applies to resources that can be restored, not just containers.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: refillable or rechargeable? refillable or recyclable?
refillable vs rechargeable
Rechargeable is for restoring electric power, while refillable is for adding liquid or material.
refillable vs recyclable
Recyclable means the material can be processed into new items, not that you can fill it again.
Practice
To reduce plastic waste, she bought a ___ water bottle.
Choose one answer.
Refillable means you can fill it again. Rechargeable applies to batteries, and disposable is the opposite of the idea.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “refillable”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.