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 memory foam filling is soft without feeling too malleable like a piece of cotton candy that falls flat. —Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 11 Nov. 2025

Her collection also has throw pillows in either down or polyester filling options that are available in multiple neutral colors. —Rachel Trujillo, PEOPLE, 11 Nov. 2025

Yellow cake can be best suited to kids' birthdays or as a contrast to rich, chocolatey fillings. —Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 10 Nov. 2025

Make sure they are completely drained before adding them to the filling the next day. —Kathryn Gregory, Louisville Courier Journal, 10 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