filling

noun

fill·​ing ˈfi-liŋ 

1

: an act or instance of filling

2

: something used to fill a cavity, container, or depression

3

: something that completes: such as

a

: the yarn interlacing the warp in a fabric

also : yarn for the shuttle

b

: a food mixture used to fill pastry or sandwiches

a fruit filling

Synonyms of filling

• fill
• packing

Examples of filling in a Sentence

a filling for a tooth

pies that need more filling

Recent Examples on the Web

After popping the balloon, their little ones joined in on the excitement and cut into a cake that had pink filling. —Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 9 Dec. 2025

This is intentional to give the cheesecake bar a sturdier base for the filling and other flavors. —Justin Burke, Southern Living, 9 Dec. 2025

Chia seeds are known for their high fiber content and their filling, gelatinous texture. —Sherri Gordon, Health, 9 Dec. 2025

Immediately drop spoonfuls of meringue onto hot pie filling, and carefully spread meringue to cover top completely, spreading to edge of crust to prevent shrinkage or weeping. —Kelly Brant, Arkansas Online, 9 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing filling

• filling station

Rhymes for filling

• billing
• chilling
• drilling
• grilling
• killing
• milling
• pilling
• rilling
• schilling
• shilling
• skilling
• spilling

Kids Definition

filling

noun

fill·​ing ˈfil-iŋ 

1

: material that is used to fill something

a filling for a tooth

2

: something that completes: as

a

: the yarn crossing over and under the warp in a fabric

b

: a food mixture used to fill pastry or sandwiches

Medical Definition

filling

noun

fill·​ing ˈfil-iŋ 

1

: material (as gold or amalgam) used to fill a cavity in a tooth

2

: simple sporadic lymphangitis of the leg of a horse commonly due to overfeeding and insufficient exercise