Definition of fill up

The phrase "fill up" is a phrasal verb that has its origins in the early 20th century. Its meaning is to add enough of a specified liquid or fuel to a container, such as a gas tank or a bottle, to make it completely full. The phrase has its roots in the English language's history of gasoline and automobiles. As cars became more popular, the need for a way to describe the process of filling up the gas tank started to emerge. There were a few phrases, such as "fill in" and "fill it up," that were commonly used at the time, but "fill up" eventually emerged as the most popular. The first known use of the phrase "fill up" can be traced back to a May 1918 article in the Toledo Blade, an Ohio-based newspaper. In this article, the term appears in the context of filling up a car's gas tank, with the author writing, "He filled up his Buick tank and bought some oil and water for the radiator." Over time, the phrase began to be used more frequently in various contexts beyond just filling up gas tanks. Today, "fill up" is commonly used in a variety of situations, such as filling up a water bottle, a cup with coffee, or even filling up one's time with activities. In summary, the origin of the phrase "fill up" can be traced back to the early 20th century, where it first emerged in the context of filling up automobile gas tanks. Its popularity has continued to grow, and today it is a commonly used phrase with broad applications beyond just filling up cars with fuel.