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

The other, from the southwest Khuzestan province, has a filling of dates, walnuts and coconut and pastry that shatters like a shell. —Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 9 May 2026

Every year, crowds of people gather on A1A, crane their necks skyward and collectively lose their minds as the Air Force Thunderbirds tear across the sky at speeds that make your fillings hurt. —Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 8 May 2026

The filling is poured in a traditional pie crust and topped with grated Gruyere and Parmesan. —Mary Shannon Wells, Southern Living, 8 May 2026

To make the filling, in a large bowl, combine the eggs and egg yolk, sugar, melted butter, vinegar, and vanilla and mix well. —Carole Kotkin, Miami Herald, 6 May 2026

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