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

This is the signature Krispy Kreme Original Glazed donut, but filled with the classic light, fluffy, smooth, and creamy Kreme filling. —Amanda Greenwood, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025

So do the traditional Portuguese tartlets of Emeril’s pastry-shop days, which have a sweet and silky custard filling and a golden, bite-size crust. —Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 3 Nov. 2025

Pour the filling into the crust. —Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Nov. 2025

Stuffed with fluffy down-alternative filling, the comforter is cozy while also being lightweight. —Isabel Garcia, PEOPLE, 2 Nov. 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