Fill
/fɪl/
Definitions
4 meaningsTo make something full by putting something into it.
/fɪl/
To put something into a container or space to make it full.
She filled the basket with apples.
💡 Simply: Imagine you're pouring juice into a glass until it's all the way up to the top! That's filling. Like, "Can you please fill my water bottle before we go to the park?"
👶 For kids: To put things in something until it's full.
More Examples
He filled the tank with gas.
Could you fill the water bottle, please?
How It's Used
"Fill the glass with water."
"They filled the hole with gravel."
To satisfy a need or desire; to occupy a role or position.
/fɪl/
To satisfy or fulfill (a need, want, or requirement).
Her role as a teacher filled a need in the community.
💡 Simply: Imagine you're really, really hungry. Then, you eat a yummy sandwich! That sandwich fills your hunger. It's like, 'That book really filled my need for adventure!'
👶 For kids: To make something good happen, like making you happy.
More Examples
The new product fills a gap in the market.
This job fills all my requirements.
How It's Used
"The project will fill a market gap."
"Traveling will fill a need to explore."
To take up or occupy space or time.
/fɪl/
To occupy or take up space or time.
The music filled the room.
💡 Simply: Think about how a whole day might be filled with things you do, like going to school, playing, and eating! Or, how a room can be filled with furniture. It is the process of something taking up the available space. "My schedule is completely filled with appointments!"
👶 For kids: To take up time or space.
More Examples
The movie filled the two-hour time slot.
The silence was filled with anticipation.
How It's Used
"The meeting will fill the afternoon."
"He filled the silence with jokes."
The quantity needed to make something full.
/fɪl/
The amount that something holds when it is full.
The fill of the vase was water.
💡 Simply: Imagine you're talking about how much stuff is inside something, like the 'fill' of a toy box, which could be all your toys! It is the complete contents of a container. "The pillow has a fluffy fill."
👶 For kids: How much stuff something has in it.
More Examples
The fill of the bottle was measured to be one liter.
The fill of the cushion was goose down.
How It's Used
"The fill of the tank is 10 gallons."
"The fill of the pillow is feathers."
Synonyms & Antonyms
Idioms & expressions
fill in
To complete a form or document by adding information.
"Please fill in this application form."
fill out
To complete a form.
"Fill out the registration form."
fill up
To become full.
"The room filled up quickly."
fill the bill
To be suitable or appropriate for a particular purpose or need; to meet requirements.
"This car fills the bill for our family."
From Old English *fyllan* (strong verb, class III; past tense *fyllde*, past participle *gefullod*), from Proto-Germanic *fulljaną* (to fill). Related to full.
The word 'fill' has been used in the English language since Old English times, with its meaning of making something full being consistent throughout its history.
Memory tip
Think of filling a container with objects until there's no space left.
Word Origin
"to make full, to fulfill"