Meaning & use
replenishment
Last updated
Meanings
noununcountable
The act of filling something up again after part of it has been used, so that there is enough once more.
Grammar: Usually uncountable and followed by of: the replenishment of supplies, not a replenishment of supplies.
Patterns
- the replenishment of something
The replenishment of food supplies took the crew two days.
Athletes need regular replenishment of fluids during a marathon.
The shop schedules stock replenishment every Monday.
nouncountablebusiness
Something added to refill a store of supplies, money or natural resources that had run low.
Grammar: Can be counted when it names a delivery: two replenishments arrived this month.
Patterns
- a replenishment of something
The warehouse received a replenishment of paper goods last night.
The fund needs a replenishment before the next project starts.
The pond is slowly gaining a replenishment of rainwater.
Word forms
| plural | replenishments |
|---|
Common combinations
- stock replenishment
- Automated stock replenishment keeps shelves full.
- fluid replenishment
- Fluid replenishment is vital after intense exercise.
- replenishment of supplies
- The replenishment of supplies was delayed by the storm.
- constant replenishment
- The river's constant replenishment keeps the lake full.
- inventory replenishment
- Inventory replenishment is handled by the night team.
Synonyms and how they differ
- refill
- Refill is everyday and usually refers to a container, while replenishment is the formal, wider word for stock or resources.
- restocking
- Restocking applies only to goods in a shop or store, but replenishment can include water, energy or nutrients.
- restoration
- Restoration means returning something to a former condition, not just adding more of what was used.
- resupply
- Resupply emphasizes bringing new provisions to a place, like a camp or ship, while replenishment is the broader filling up.
Opposites
Word family
- replenish verb
- to fill something up again
- replenished adjective
- filled up again
- replenishable adjective
- able to be restored or refilled
- nonreplenishable adjective
- not able to be refilled or renewed
Commonly confused: replenishment or replacement?
replenishment vs replacement
A replacement takes the place of something. Replenishment adds more of what has been used, to refill the supply.
Practice
After the long hike, the first priority was the ___ of water supplies.
Choose one answer.
Replenishment means refilling a supply that is running low. Replacement would suggest swapping the water for something else, which is not what is meant.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “replenishment”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.