Fill — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb noun /ˈfil/

Meaning & Definition of Fill

Fill (verb)

  1. to put into as much as can be held or conveniently contained
  2. to supply with a full complement
  3. to cause to swell or billow

Fill (noun)

  1. a full supply; especially, a quantity that satisfies or satiates
  2. something that fills
  3. material used to fill a receptacle, cavity, passage, or low place

Fill (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to put into (something) as much as can be held or contained

    "fill the basket with apples"

    similar: brim, charge, cram, heap, jam, jam-pack, load, pack, stuff
    related: drench, flood, glut, swamp, bloat, bulk, crowd, crush, mat, press, ram, shove, squash, squeeze, refill, refresh, reload, repack, replenish, overcharge, overfill, overflow, saturate, honeycomb, penetrate
    opposite: clear, empty, evacuate, vacate, void
    near: lighten, deplete, drain, eliminate, exhaust, bleed, draw (off), clean, flush, purge, scour, sweep

  2. to close up so that no empty spaces remain

    "before starting to paint, fill all the cracks with putty"

    similar: block, bung, dam, pack, plug, stop, stuff
    related: choke, clog, close (off), clot, congest, jam, obstruct, occlude, caulk, chink, seal, repack, restuff
    near: excavate, hollow (out), scoop (out), shovel

  3. to do what is required by the terms of

    "orders received by this date will be filled in time for Christmas delivery of the merchandise"

    similar: answer, complete, comply (with), fulfill, keep, meet, redeem, satisfy, abide by, make good
    related: conclude, consummate, finalize, finish, perfect, accomplish, achieve, bring about, bring off, carry out, effect, commit, compass, discharge, execute, follow through (with), make, perform
    opposite: breach, break, transgress, violate
    near: default (on), disregard, forget, ignore, neglect, overlook, overpass, pass over, slight

Fill (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. soft material that is used to fill the hollow parts of something

    "we ripped the tag off years ago, so we have no idea what the fill in that pillow is"

    similar: filler, filling, padding, stuffing, wadding
    related: packing, interlining, lining, quilting, buffer, bumper, cushion, fender, pad

Related Entry: Fill-in (noun)

Fill-in is a different word from Fill. The synonyms below are for fill-in, not for fill.

  1. a person or thing that takes the place of another

    "I'm just a fill-in, so I have no idea where office supplies are kept"

    similar: backup, cover, designated hitter, locum tenens, pinch hitter, relief, replacement, reserve, stand-in, sub, substitute
    related: alternate, understudy, apology, makeshift, stopgap, agent, assignee, attorney, commissary, delegate, deputy, envoy, factor, procurator, proxy, rep, representative, surrogate, assistant, reliever, second, successor, superseder

Related Entry: Fill in (verb)

Fill in is a different word from Fill. The synonyms below are for fill in, not for fill.

  1. to give information to

    "my friend quickly filled me in on the portion of the movie that I had missed"

    similar: acquaint, advise, apprise, brief, catch up, clear, clue (in), enlighten, familiarize, hip, inform, instruct, tell, verse, wise (up), keep (someone) posted, let someone know
    related: advertise, alert, notify, announce (to), disclose (to), assure, certify, convince, reassure, warrant, educate, lecture, school, teach, tutor, disabuse, disenchant, disillusion, undeceive
    near: misinform, mislead

  2. to serve as a replacement usually for a time only

    "she's only filling in while the regular secretary is on vacation"

    similar: cover, pinch-hit, stand in, step in, sub, substitute, take over
    related: understudy, relieve, spell, double (as)

Related Entry: Fill the bill (phrase)

Fill the bill is a different word from Fill. The synonyms below are for fill the bill, not for fill.

  1. to be fitting or proper

    "We finally found an apartment that filled the bill."

    similar: befit, beseem (archaic), do, fit (archaic), go, serve, suit
    related: satisfy, suffice, function, work

Related Entry: Fill (out) (verb)

Fill (out) is a different word from Fill. The synonyms below are for fill (out), not for fill.

  1. as in flesh (out)

    similar: flesh (out), complement, complete, supplement, embody, epitomize, incarnate, incorporate, integrate, materialize, personify, substantiate, compose, comprise, constitute, form, make up

Related Entry: Fill (up) (verb)

Fill (up) is a different word from Fill. The synonyms below are for fill (up), not for fill.

  1. as in diffuse (through), percolate (into)

    similar: drench, imbue, infuse, saturate, soak, steep, interpenetrate, percolate (into), permeate, pervade, riddle, suffuse, transfuse, diffuse (through), impregnate, pass (into), penetrate, flood, glut

Related Entry: Fill-ins (noun)

Fill-ins is a different word from Fill. The synonyms below are for fill-ins, not for fill.

  1. a person or thing that takes the place of another

    "I'm just a fill-in, so I have no idea where office supplies are kept"

    similar: backups, covers, designated hitters, locum tenentes, pinch hitters, reliefs, replacements, reserves, stand-ins, subs, substitutes
    related: alternates, understudies, apologies, makeshifts, stopgaps, agents, assignees, attorneys, commissaries, delegates, deputies, envoys, factors, procurators, proxies, representatives, reps, surrogates, assistants, relievers, seconds, successors, superseders

Related Entry: Back (verb)

Back is a different word from Fill. The synonyms below are for back, not for fill.

  1. to promote the interests or cause of

    "she enthusiastically backed the plan to renovate and upgrade the school's facilities"

    similar: advocate, champion, endorse, patronize, plump (for), plunk (for), support, go in for, go to bat for, hold a brief for, stand up for, stick up for
    related: adopt, embrace, espouse, abet, aid, assist, help, prop (up), second, side (with), backstop, bolster, boost, buttress, reinforce, advance, forward, further, plug, preach, talk up, bail out, deliver, rescue, save
    near: baffle, foil, frustrate, interfere, oppose, sabotage, thwart, desert, disappoint, fail, let down

  2. to provide (someone) with what is useful or necessary to achieve an end

    "a number of influential people have already agreed to back the candidate"

    similar: abet, aid, assist, backstop, help, prop (up), support, bear a hand, to stand one in good stead
    related: advance, ease, facilitate, forward, foster, further, launch, champion, endorse, patronize, promote, sponsor, attend, care (for), comfort, minister (to), succor, sustain, bolster, boost, buttress, reinforce, advise, counsel, guide, mentor, nurture, bail out, deliver, rescue, save, embolden, encourage, hearten, benefit, favor, oblige, profit, serve
    opposite: hinder
    near: balk, bar, block, constrain, hamper, handicap, hold back, impede, inhibit, obstruct, restrain, strangle, baffle, foil, frustrate, inconvenience, interfere, oppose, sabotage, thwart, desert, disappoint, fail, let down, discourage, dishearten, repress, retard, stifle, straiten, stunt, damage, harm, hurt, injure

  3. to provide evidence or information for (as a claim or idea)

    "the author needs to back her thesis with more facts"

    similar: bolster, buttress, corroborate, reinforce, shore (up), substantiate, support
    related: confirm, establish, prove, verify, affirm, avouch, validate
    near: undercut, undermine, weaken

Related Entry: Backer (noun)

Backer is a different word from Fill. The synonyms below are for backer, not for fill.

  1. a person who actively supports or favors a cause

    "backers of prison reform held a rally in front of the statehouse"

    similar: advocate, advocator, apostle, booster, champion, espouser, exponent, expounder, friend, gospeler, herald, hierophant, high priest, paladin, promoter, proponent, protagonist, supporter, true believer, tub-thumper, white knight
    related: loyalist, partisan, stalwart, adherent, cohort, disciple, follower, interpreter, applauder, cheerleader, encourager, fellow traveler
    opposite: adversary, antagonist, opponent
    near: enemy, foe, rival, belittler, critic, faultfinder

  2. a person who takes the responsibility for some other person or thing

    "all financial backers will be expected to offer some input into the company's decisions"

    similar: guarantor, patron, sponsor, surety
    related: chaperone, advocate, champion, supporter, angel, benefactor, underwriter, coach, mentor, teacher, cosponsor, cosignatory, cosigner

  3. someone associated with another to give assistance or moral support

    "the student's backers spoke at the school board meeting on her behalf"

    similar: abettor, ally, bedfellow, confederate, fellow traveler, supporter, sympathizer
    related: empathizer, well-wisher, accessory, accomplice, coalitionist, collaborationist, collaborator, adjunct, assistant, coadjutor, helper, associate, cohort, colleague, fellow, partner, buddy, chum, companion, comrade, confidant, crony, familiar, friend, intimate, mate, pal
    near: belittler, detractor, adversary, enemy, foe, opponent

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Fill

The most common words with a similar meaning to Fill:

brim, charge, cram, heap, jam, jam-pack, load, pack, stuff, block, bung, dam, plug, stop, answer, complete, comply (with), fulfill, keep, meet, redeem, satisfy, abide by, make good, filler, filling, padding, stuffing, wadding

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Fill

Words with the opposite meaning of Fill:

clear, empty, evacuate, vacate, void, breach, break, transgress, violate

Related Words for Fill

drench, flood, glut, swamp, bloat, bulk, crowd, crush, mat, press, ram, shove, squash, squeeze, refill, refresh, reload, repack, replenish, overcharge, overfill, overflow, saturate, honeycomb, penetrate, choke, clog, close (off), clot, congest

Near Antonyms of Fill

lighten, deplete, drain, eliminate, exhaust, bleed, draw (off), clean, flush, purge, scour, sweep, excavate, hollow (out), scoop (out), shovel, default (on), disregard, forget, ignore, neglect, overlook, overpass, pass over, slight

Word Forms of Fill

Inflections: filled, filling, fills

Origin & Etymology of Fill

Middle English fillen, fullen, fellen, going back to Old English fyllan, going back to Germanic *fulljan- (whence also Old Frisian fella "to fill," Old Saxon fullian, Old High German fullen, Old Icelandic fylla, Gothic fulljan), weak verb derivative from the stem of *fulla- full:1

First known use: before 12th centuryt

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Fill

Words & Phrases Containing Fill

fill away, fill-in, fill in, fill one's shoes, fill out, fill the bill, fill-up, fill a niche

Frequently Asked Questions about Fill

What does "Fill" mean?

"Fill" means to put into as much as can be held or conveniently contained. As an a verb and a noun, it is defined as: to put into as much as can be held or conveniently contained. It has 4 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Fill"?

Other words for "Fill" include brim, charge, cram, heap, jam, jam-pack, load and pack. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Fill" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Fill"?

There are 92 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Fill". Common alternatives include brim, charge, cram, heap, jam, jam-pack, load, pack, stuff and block.

What is the opposite of "Fill"?

Antonyms of "Fill" include clear, empty, evacuate, vacate, void, breach, break and transgress. Near antonyms include lighten, deplete, drain and eliminate.

How do you use "Fill" in a sentence?

Examples of "Fill" in a sentence: "fill the basket with apples"; "before starting to paint, fill all the cracks with putty"; "orders received by this date will be filled in time for Christmas delivery of the merchandise".

Is "Fill" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Fill" can be used as a verb and a noun, depending on the context.

Is "Fill" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As an A1-level word, "Fill" is typical of Cambridge A1 Movers (Young Learners), TOEIC Listening & Reading 120+.

How do you pronounce "Fill"?

"Fill" is pronounced /ˈfil/.