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
• filler
• padding
• stuffing
• wadding

Examples of filling in a Sentence

a filling for a tooth

pies that need more filling

Recent Examples on the Web

They are made in the U.S. with high-quality materials including cotton bouclé, genuine cowhide leather, velvet, an organic kapok filling and healing crystals. —Alexandra Pastore, Footwear News, 18 June 2025

For the nut filling, mix sugar, water and lemon juice in a pan. —Lillian Ali, Smithsonian Magazine, 17 June 2025

Seventy-three corners with elevation changes big enough to give you tummy tickles at over 100 mph (160 km/h), crazy carousels that'll rattle your fillings at nearly 2 gs, and tunnel-vision-inducing max-speed straights. —New Atlas, 16 June 2025

Enter Brunello Cucinelli, who can be relied upon for functional, warm layers in a spectrum of luxurious fabrics and fillings, from padded suede to virgin wool. —Naomi Rougeau, Robb Report, 11 June 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