fill-in 1 of 2

noun

ˈfil-ˌin How to pronounce fill-in (audio)
Definition of fill-innext
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

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fill in

2 of 2

verb

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. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of fill-in
Noun
After all, when employees call out on short notice, businesses pay for it — in longer lines, less efficient service and overtime for fill-in staff. — Andrea Hsu, NPR, 17 Aug. 2026 Hollywood icon Rosie O’Donnell has taken stock of — and shots at — the television landscape before making her temporary return to the talk show format as fill-in host of Jimmy Kimmel Live. — Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 17 Aug. 2026
Verb
And the vacuum here, which was filled in by complete cheerleaders a little bit, is very scary to me. — Hanna Rosin, The Atlantic, 27 Aug. 2026 To fill in the gap, our team, led by hydrologists and data scientists, created an interactive website to track permafrost thaw in near-real time across the Arctic, using a unique quality of the Arctic’s version of the sinkhole. — Anna Liljedahl, The Conversation, 26 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for fill-in
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fill-in
  1. substitute
  2. inform
  3. stand in
  4. replacement
  5. tell
  6. take over
  7. backup
  8. advise
Noun
  • Lawmakers could offer substitute proposals, with final votes after 100 hours of debate.
    — Kevin Freking, Fortune, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Quinta de la Rosa Extra Dry White Port Perfumed with a note of pear, this offering is a great lower-alcohol substitute for gin or vodka in most cocktails but equally quaffable when splashed with tonic or seltzer.
    — Joseph Hernandez, Bon Appetit Magazine, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of substitute
Verb
  • This list is informed by The Athletic’s newsroom — including David Ornstein — and their reporting in the last days of the window.
    — The Athletic UK Staff, New York Times, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Any business, town or development group needs this data informing their decisions.
    — Twila Moon, Washington Post, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of inform
Verb
  • It’s mainly centered on Billie, who is worried about an old Facebook post standing in the way of finding a job.
    — Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Seven dogs surrounded and attacked a Charlotte woman standing in her yard, and three additional people were hurt while trying to help her, according to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Animal Care and Control.
    — Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of stand in
Noun
  • The superstructure on the Market Street Bridge over Amtrak and the Schuylkill Expressway is supposed to be partially demolished and then replaced, and replacements will be made to the sidewalk and decks adjacent to the bridge.
    — Kaitlyn McCormick, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026
  • The wireless connection can also allow equipment manufacturers to avoid adding openings specifically for battery replacement or charging.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of replacement
Verb
  • The referendum campaign has fueled debate about Iceland’s place in the world, Prime Minister Kristrun Frostadottir told reporters after casting her ballot in ​the capital on Saturday.
    — Reuters, NBC news, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Indrika Ratwatte, the acting assistant secretary-general for humanitarian affairs, told the Security Council that the Kenscoff attack forced more than 2,600 people to flee their homes, many for the second or third time.
    — Evens Sanon, Los Angeles Times, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of tell
Verb
  • As psychedelic rock took over the city in the 1960s, Latino artists blended it with Afro-Cuban beats and percussive sounds more commonly found in jazz and salsa.
    — Marissa J. Lang, NPR, 28 Aug. 2026
  • As nonpartisan members of the congressional staff, most parliamentarians serve across administrations and Congresses, but occasionally they have been replaced in the Senate when a new party takes over the leadership.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of take over
Noun
  • There aren’t that many practice reps available during the season for one backup let alone two.
    — Jon Machota, New York Times, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Since the late 1990s, taxpayers have been funding a program to stash extra Colorado River water underground, with the idea that it could be used as a backup in times of shortage.
    — Alex Hager, NPR, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of backup
Verb
  • Weather officials also advise applying sunscreen every two hours and avoiding alcohol when hot out.
    — Finnegan Belleau, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2026
  • John Watson, the influential psychologist, advised parents not to hug or kiss their children.
    — Andrew Silow-Carroll, Sun Sentinel, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of advise

Browse Nearby Words

fillies
fill-in
fill in
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Cite this Entry

“Fill-in.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fill-in. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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