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

With pops of lemon and cinnamon in the filling, this pie is literally bursting with flavor to enjoy this summer. —Abby Fribush, Southern Living, 10 Apr. 2026

But the place where the filo met the filling was unfortunately gummy and pretty inedible. —Jess Fleming, Twin Cities, 9 Apr. 2026

Dental hygienists perform cleanings but cannot do invasive work such as permanent fillings and are not trained to identify oral cancers. —Jack O'Connor, Chicago Tribune, 9 Apr. 2026

It’s made of breathable cotton, while a lightweight filling adds warmth without overheating. —Jacqueline Tempera, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Apr. 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