filling in

verb

present participle of fill in
1
as in informing
to give information to my friend quickly filled me in on the portion of the movie that I had missed

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in standing in
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 filling in After practice, pass game coordinator Joe Bleymaier — filling in with offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy away from the team — said the plays were designed to emphasize the strengths of the team’s new personnel. — Kansas City Star, 4 Aug. 2026 Charlie Heck, who has been filling in for Austin Jackson as Miami’s starting right tackle, had a respectable day Tuesday. — Omar Kelly august 4, Miami Herald, 4 Aug. 2026 The announcement builds on plans first revealed at the network's Upfronts in May, filling in details on nominees and a broader festival concept reshaping the franchise. — Veronica Villafañe, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026 On Monday, Savannah and her co-anchor, Craig Melvin, were both out, with Sheinelle Jones and Hallie Jackson filling in. — Rachel McRady, PEOPLE, 28 July 2026 Guthrie sat next to Sheinelle Jones, who was filling in for Melvin on Monday. — Lara Walsh, InStyle, 20 July 2026 For this week’s Infinite Scroll column, Brady Brickner-Wood is filling in for Kyle Chayka. — Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 15 July 2026 Juicy blueberries burst during baking, melding with the fresh peach juices for a gorgeous, saucy filling in this pie. — Patricia S York, Southern Living, 12 June 2026 Parents are starting meal planning with the protein component first, then filling in the rest of the plate around it. — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Charlotte Observer, 4 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for filling in
  1. informing
  2. standing in
  3. telling
  4. substituting
  5. advising
  6. stepping in
  7. catching up
  8. taking over
Verb
  • Buc-ee's claimed that the unauthorized use of its trademarks, including a smiling animal mascot, were benefitting the Missouri convenience store at Buc-ee's expense, while falsely informing consumers that the two businesses are related.
    — Gabe Hauari, USA Today, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Yet on July 22, as federal firefighters were on high alert as dozens of wildfires were spreading across multiple states, Schulz sent an email to Forest Service staff informing them that the reorganization would begin that week.
    — Chiara Eisner, NPR, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of informing
Verb
  • Growth in Asia was spurred by core markets like China, up 40% year-on-year and standing in contrast to the rest of the industry, where the market dragged on quarterly results.
    — Ella Graveney, Vogue, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Well Cottage takes its name from the old well still standing in the front garden of this three-bedroom house in the beautiful village of Ramsden.
    — Katharine Sohn, Architectural Digest, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of standing in
Verb
  • Abernathy Greenway Park walk with Trees Atlanta Take a walk through the park with a Trees Atlanta docent, who will teach simple tricks for telling trees apart and share stories about why trees are important and how to protect them.
    — Mary Caldwell, AJC.com, 4 Aug. 2026
  • But that, according to the Florida Bar, did not absolve Gonzalez of his decision to dismiss the case in the first place without telling his client, a Miami resident.
    — Rafael Olmeda, Sun Sentinel, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of telling
Verb
  • Terraza enjoys substituting guava for quince or pear in dessert recipes for a fun, tropical twist.
    — Su-Jit Lin, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 July 2026
  • Sunmaxxing itself is free, but a commercial layer has formed around tracking it, coaching it or substituting for it when the sun is not cooperating.
    — Hanna Wickes, Sacbee.com, 25 July 2026
Definition of substituting
Verb
  • On July 28, the Pyeongtaek city government sent text messages advising its residents to move to safe places and avoid skin exposure, saying white phosphorus was leaked at the Osan Air Base in the city, which is just south of Seoul, the capital.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 6 Aug. 2026
  • The team Ted is advising may be different, but the vibes are the same.
    — Lisa Stardust, PEOPLE, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of advising
Verb
  • Even when the play returns to the familiar rhythm of Shaw provoking Dreyfuss and Scheider stepping in to restore peace, the performances keep the interactions engaging.
    — Michelle F. Solomon, Miami Herald, 29 July 2026
  • As Bay Area art schools flounder under financial strain, Silicon Valley is increasingly stepping in as an influential force in the region’s cultural landscape.
    — Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 22 July 2026
Definition of stepping in
Verb
  • The data appear to show Miller’s troubles catching up to him.
    — Hailey Bullis, The Washington Examiner, 6 Aug. 2026
  • What has changed is that the rest of the American market is finally catching up.
    — Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 30 July 2026
Definition of catching up
Verb
  • Shapiro has been named the next Richard Rodgers dean and director of the drama division at the prestigious school, taking over starting in July 2027.
    — Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 6 Aug. 2026
  • With swangy flavors taking over the snack aisle, these findings raise some interesting questions about whether the trend could do more than just satisfy adventurous taste buds.
    — Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 31 July 2026
Definition of taking over

Browse Nearby Words

filling
filling in
filling (out)
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Cite this Entry

“Filling in.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/filling%20in. Accessed 8 Aug. 2026.

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