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
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 filling
Anna Price Olson, Southern Living, 6 Apr. 2026
Many feature fancy fillings such as pistachio cream, hazelnut spreads or layered textures — a style popularized by the viral Dubai chocolate trend — that combines smooth chocolate with crispier elements such as shredded phyllo dough.
—Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 3 Apr. 2026
Sanjay Srivastava, Forbes.com, 31 Aug. 2025
Jennifer Stewart Kornegay, Southern Living, 9 Apr. 2026
And in South Florida groups have stepped in to support migrants navigating complicated immigration processes, from deportation to self-deportation, often filling gaps left by government systems.
—Lauren Costantino, Miami Herald, 4 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for filling
Noun
Start with a package of frozen puff pastry, then whip up your filling with dark sweet cherries, lemon juice, sugar, salt, almond abstract, and cornstarch.
—Anna Price Olson, Southern Living, 6 Apr. 2026
Many feature fancy fillings such as pistachio cream, hazelnut spreads or layered textures — a style popularized by the viral Dubai chocolate trend — that combines smooth chocolate with crispier elements such as shredded phyllo dough.
—Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 3 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
Popular selections include hearty sandwiches on rustic breads and fluffy frittatas, whose filling specifics change daily based on whatever is ripe and ready in the area.
—Jennifer Stewart Kornegay, Southern Living, 9 Apr. 2026
And in South Florida groups have stepped in to support migrants navigating complicated immigration processes, from deportation to self-deportation, often filling gaps left by government systems.
—Lauren Costantino, Miami Herald, 4 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for filling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for filling
Noun
-
Point being, the Bengals have a history of prioritizing this type of situation early in the draft and need a quality fill at a premium position in early rounds with talent that fits their draft spot.—
Paul Dehner Jr,
New York Times,
7 Apr. 2026
-
Finally solved that hard-to-fill spot?—
Ed Silverman,
STAT,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
If your entire evening is spent on a ball field or on the go, loading food up and taking it with you is another practical option.—
Dr. Sarah Kinsella,
Boston Herald,
5 Apr. 2026
-
On the day of our visit, the South Korean tanker SK Audace was loading cargo, hooked up to pipes so cold they were covered in a thick layer of frost despite the balmy bayou weather.—
Tim McDonnell,
semafor.com,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
For travel days, pair your airport-ready sweatsuits with the Everyday Trainer Sneakers, or toss the Scrunched Sneakers that feature a flexible silhouette into your suitcase to make packing a breeze.—
Julia Morlino,
Travel + Leisure,
11 Apr. 2026
-
Amazon's fulfillment services include the process of storing, packing and shipping orders.—
Melina Khan,
USA Today,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Randhawa began fulfilling orders herself, sourcing ingredients from local stores and handing off jars in Manhattan parks during her lunch break.—
Peter Burke,
FOXNews.com,
11 Apr. 2026
-
These plays, Towns says, are just as important, just as fulfilling to his game as putting 30 points or 20 rebounds on the board.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
However, Wittmann cautions against cramming one’s day planner with novel experiences as a means of seizing (and holding on to) the day.—
Jennifer Byrne,
Popular Science,
8 Apr. 2026
-
With referees increasingly tolerant of grappling inside the six-yard box, more teams are deliberately cramming players around opposition goalkeepers, blocking their movements and attacking the space around them rather than the ball itself.—
Matt Pyzdrowski,
New York Times,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
No one in my generation remembers the huge labor force of switchboard operators, but in the 1950s there were 340,000 workers physically plugging cords into jacks to connect callers to one another (roughly equivalent to the number of dental assistants today).—
Rachyl Jones,
semafor.com,
11 Mar. 2026
-
The latter two moves shore up the bottom of the roster, plugging the last remaining holes this team has, while the Kadri add is arguably the biggest needle-moving acquisition of the deadline.—
Dom Luszczyszyn,
New York Times,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Caroline first learned about the Hole in her twenties by reading mommy blogs, a form of procrastination less about satisfying any conscious curiosity about motherhood and more about finding comfort in the easy intimacy with which these women wrote about their own lives.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Previte understands how to package a selection of dishes to deliver the most consistent, nourishing experience, satisfying in both its unity and variety.—
Bill Addison,
Los Angeles Times,
9 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
-
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 13 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
