1
as in loading
to put into (something) as much as can be held or contained
fill the basket with apples
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in packing
to close up so that no empty spaces remain
before starting to paint, fill all the cracks with putty
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in fulfilling
to do what is required by the terms of
orders received by this date will be filled in time for Christmas delivery of the merchandise
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of filling
Kelly McCarthy, ABC News, 20 Apr. 2026
This is a five-minute vegetarian filling.
—Deputy Food Editor, Los Angeles Times, 19 Apr. 2026
Sanjay Srivastava, Forbes.com, 31 Aug. 2025
Tejasri Gururaj, Interesting Engineering, 24 Apr. 2026
Relish Trays There is no savory snack as beloved as the relish plate, an assortment of raw and pickled vegetables typically served before a meal to perk up your appetite without filling you up.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 24 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for filling
Noun
The Milk Bar Pie Doughnut resembles Tosi's signature Milk Bar Pie and is made with an unglazed shell doughnut filled with buttery pie filling, dipped in caramel icing and rolled in oat cookie topping, then dusted with a sweet, powdered coating.
—Kelly McCarthy, ABC News, 20 Apr. 2026
This is a five-minute vegetarian filling.
—Deputy Food Editor, Los Angeles Times, 19 Apr. 2026
Adjective
Automation could help at the margins — routing requests, pre-filling forms, or suggesting knowledge-base articles — but the core work still had to be done by people.
—Sanjay Srivastava, Forbes.com, 31 Aug. 2025
Verb
Why natural gas is filling the gap today The US currently generates around 40 percent of its electricity from natural gas, with coal and renewables making up most of the rest.
—Tejasri Gururaj, Interesting Engineering, 24 Apr. 2026
Relish Trays There is no savory snack as beloved as the relish plate, an assortment of raw and pickled vegetables typically served before a meal to perk up your appetite without filling you up.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 24 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for filling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for filling
Noun
-
The comforter is double-sided, so the cooling fabric surrounds you all night long, while the ultra-breathable fill promotes airflow to help prevent that sticky, overheated feeling that some other bedding can cause.—
Mariana Best,
Better Homes & Gardens,
19 Apr. 2026
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Reemerging at a time when indie-rock and alt-country are mingling to substantial success and when slick, young Americana stars fill stadiums, top mainstream charts, and release data-dumps worth of material, Souled American sounds defiantly anachronistic.—
Zach Schonfeld,
Pitchfork,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
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King clipped Ramón Urías with a slider, loading the bases.—
Matt Kawahara,
Houston Chronicle,
19 Apr. 2026
-
The Rays had a chance for a potential big inning earlier in the game, loading the bases with two outs in the third.—
LaMond Pope,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
There is one thing that can ruin your Euro-trip, though, and that’s not packing efficiently.—
Jasmine Gomez,
Travel + Leisure,
24 Apr. 2026
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Guro Reiten is sitting inside her apartment in Norway, in between spending time with her 5-month-old son and packing her life away.—
Melanie Anzidei,
New York Times,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
This was the 10th overall pick the Giants acquired after trading All-Pro defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence to the Cincinnati Bengals last week, fulfilling his trade request amid a contract dispute.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
24 Apr. 2026
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Cozy nights, redecorating, family affairs or inviting someone sweet into your personal space can feel especially fulfilling.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Bring a lightweight coat with big pockets, and start cramming stuff into them.—
Marla Jo Fisher,
Oc Register,
15 Apr. 2026
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Instead of using an oversized crock or cramming utensils into drawers and making a mess, try hanging them on the wall.—
Mary Cornetta,
Better Homes & Gardens,
12 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The deal is Ascentium’s most recent in more than a dozen acquisitions, plugging a gap in the company’s mainland China coverage while deepening its footprint in hot Southeast Asian growth markets.—
Nicholas Gordon,
Fortune,
21 Apr. 2026
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In many ways, plugging into the literary community and falling in love with reading again have healed that sense of loss.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
There’s no satisfying answer to why Sasha climbed onto the pool.—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
23 Apr. 2026
-
Now, 30% of Maran’s current sales are refills, most of which are contained in photogenic, sensorially satisfying pouches.—
Kara McGrath,
Allure,
22 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
In its all-too-human view of life, this is, entertainingly, whatever the opposite of a cloying graduation speech is.—
Robert Abele,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Feb. 2026
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Plus, the jojoba oil gives it a light, inoffensive smell that’s heavenly to inhale compared to the strong, cloying scents of other men’s products.—
Irene Richardson,
InStyle,
21 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Filling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/filling. Accessed 27 Apr. 2026.
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