as in substitute
a person or thing that takes the place of another
I'm just a fill-in, so I have no idea where office supplies are kept
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
1
as in to inform
to give information to
my friend quickly filled me in on the portion of the movie that I had missed
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to substitute
to serve as a replacement usually for a time only
she's only filling in while the regular secretary is on vacation
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of fill-in
Jeff McDonald, San Antonio Express-News, 25 Apr. 2026
Last word Gabby Lucivero, first woman to be named Connecticut Sportscaster of the Year, is leaving NBC CT after eight years to join ESPN radio as a fill-in host.
—Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 19 Apr. 2026
Fiifi Frimpong, New York Daily News, 3 June 2026
Lawns with just a few bare patches or a thinning stand can be overseeded to fill in the gaps.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 3 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for fill-in
Noun
Spurs stay small but survive Luke Kornet functioned well as Wembanyama’s fill-in, producing 14 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks in 30 minutes.
—Jeff McDonald, San Antonio Express-News, 25 Apr. 2026
Last word Gabby Lucivero, first woman to be named Connecticut Sportscaster of the Year, is leaving NBC CT after eight years to join ESPN radio as a fill-in host.
—Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 19 Apr. 2026
Verb
Then came an unexpected January benching for Clarkson, who was relegated to the bench as Brown opted for Landry Shamet to fill in those minutes.
—Fiifi Frimpong, New York Daily News, 3 June 2026
Lawns with just a few bare patches or a thinning stand can be overseeded to fill in the gaps.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 3 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for fill-in
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fill-in
Noun
-
For a vegetarian option, omit the pancetta and substitute vegetable stock for the chicken stock.—
Lynda Balslev,
Mercury News,
2 June 2026
-
Dietary requirements are well catered for; every possible intolerance from celery to sesame is marked on the menu, and every milk substitute is available, which surprised me in an English country hotel.—
Harriet Marsden,
TheWeek,
2 June 2026
Verb
-
Over its run the series saw the sudden departure of several notable creative collaborators, including photographer Petra Collins, whose aesthetic informed the first season, and Labrinth, whose music channeled the show’s emotional throughlines for two seasons.—
CT Jones,
Rolling Stone,
2 June 2026
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This article is meant to inform the general reader and is not a substitute for medical advice from a physician or nutritional advice from a dietitian and/or nutritionist.—
Samantha Agate,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
2 June 2026
Verb
-
When Officers Jordan White and Chad Cox entered the third-floor apartment, body camera footage showed Pike standing in a closet, which was also Destinii’s nursery, holding the infant.—
Ben Wheeler
June 2,
Kansas City Star,
2 June 2026
-
Was there really nothing more standing in her way than a pea-size clump of cells?—
Jonathan Franzen,
New Yorker,
1 June 2026
Noun
-
Neto’s replacement, Nick Madrigal, left in the top of the ninth inning after Andrew Wantz’s pitch ricocheted from Madrigal’s hand to his face.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
31 May 2026
-
Passengers boarded a replacement flight with a new crew, which took off early Sunday morning and landed in Palma in the afternoon.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
31 May 2026
Verb
-
Please tell us the bathroom won’t let us down.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
1 June 2026
-
For Democrats who had a similar reaction in real time, but who spent months being told by the Biden campaign that their concerns were overblown, her remarks landed like a gut punch.—
Ana Ceballos
Follow,
Los Angeles Times,
31 May 2026
Verb
-
When Joan passed away in 2013, her daughter took over the reins as curator.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
-
Spanish coach Andoni Iraola, who left Bournemouth at the end of the season, is the clear frontrunner to take over with Liverpool keen to make a swift appointment.—
James Pearce,
New York Times,
1 June 2026
Noun
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In the meantime, customers get free satellite service, Freier said, and the company uses AI tools to automatically adjust antennas and conserve backup batteries when needed, which stretches the time period that they can be used.—
Ayana Archie,
NPR,
4 June 2026
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Plumlee was added to provide insurance and depth at center behind 7-foot-4 phenom Victor Wembanyama and backup Luke Kornet.—
Roderick Boone,
Charlotte Observer,
3 June 2026
Verb
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Authorities advised anyone who may have touched or been bitten by the bat to contact the Alameda County Public Health Acute Communicable Disease Program at 510-267-3250 and seek immediate medical attention.—
Michael Sinkewicz,
FOXNews.com,
31 May 2026
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The Western Interstate Commission also advises universities on potential ways to offset the decline.—
Elizabeth Hernandez,
Denver Post,
31 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fill-in.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fill-in. Accessed 7 Jun. 2026.
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