Filled

/fɪld/

verbBeginnerVery CommonGeneral

Definitions

3 meanings
1

To make something full; to occupy all the available space in something.

/fɪld/

verbneutralBeginner
General

To put something in a container or space so that it becomes full.

He filled the bucket with sand.

💡 Simply: Imagine you have an empty jar and you're adding candy to it until there's no more room. That's filling!

👶 For kids: To put stuff into something until it's full.

More Examples

2

The store filled its shelves with new products.

3

I filled my lungs with fresh air.

How It's Used

General Usage

"She filled the glass with water."

Practical Application

"The workers filled the pothole with asphalt."

2

To occupy a role, position, or space.

/fɪld/

verbneutralmedium
General

To occupy (a position or role).

He filled the role perfectly.

💡 Simply: When someone takes over a job or a role, like being the boss. They're 'filling' that position.

👶 For kids: To take a job or be in charge of something.

More Examples

2

They filled the vacancies after the layoffs.

3

She filled in for the absent teacher.

How It's Used

Employment

"She filled the position of CEO after the retirement."

Sports

"He filled the role of center forward."

Tip:Think of 'filling' a job vacancy.
3

Being full or supplied with something; occupied.

/fɪld/

adjectiveneutralBeginner
General

Full or supplied with something.

The house was filled with music.

💡 Simply: If something has a lot of things in it, it's 'filled'. Like a treasure chest filled with gold!

👶 For kids: Having a lot of something inside.

More Examples

2

Her heart was filled with joy.

3

The bag was filled with groceries.

How It's Used

General Usage

"The room was filled with laughter."

Descriptive

"A filled sandwich."

Tip:Think of a room full of people or a sandwich full of ingredients.

Idioms & expressions

fill someone's shoes

To take over a role or position, especially after someone else has left.

"It will be hard to fill his shoes as head of the department."

fill in the blanks

To provide missing information or details to complete something.

"Can you fill in the blanks on this application form?"

fill someone in

To give someone the information that they need.

"Can you fill me in on what happened at the meeting?"

From Middle English fillen, fulen, from Old English fyllan (“to fill, replenish, satisfy”), from Proto-Germanic *fullijaną (“to fill”), from *fullaz (“full”).

The word 'fill' and its past tense forms have been used in English for centuries, reflecting a fundamental concept of making something full or occupied.

Memory tip

Think of filling a bucket with water until it's brimming.

fillefildfilld

Usage

45%Spoken
55%Written