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

This casserole, from our 1991 recipe collection, has a classic sweet potato filling, but it’s sweetened with apple butter for a richer, more concentrated flavor. —Melinda Salchert, Southern Living, 15 Oct. 2025

To make the filling, in a medium bowl, cream together the cream cheese and butter. —Kathryn Gregory, Louisville Courier Journal, 15 Oct. 2025

The filling, as well as the sprinkles and the frosting, will remain the same. —Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune, 14 Oct. 2025

Her husband knocked frames down and fixed the walls, while Donaldson took on taping, filling, sanding and painting. —Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Oct. 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