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

Synonyms

• fill
• packing

Examples of filling in a Sentence

a filling for a tooth

pies that need more filling

Recent Examples on the Web

Its grid stitch looks elegant while preventing the stuffing from bunching up, and it’s made of 100% cotton with a polyester filling that is helpful for people with allergies. —Jacqueline Tempera, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Sep. 2025

Sudan, meanwhile, has joined Egypt’s calls for legally binding agreements on the dam’s filling and operation - but could also benefit from better flood management and access to cheap energy. —CNN Money, 9 Sep. 2025

The filling is gooey, very sweet, and totally delicious. —Ann Taylor Pittman, Southern Living, 9 Sep. 2025

Red Bull and Rauch plan to build a beverage manufacturing, filling, and distribution center across 2 million square feet at The Grounds at Concord. —Chase Jordan, Charlotte Observer, 9 Sep. 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