1
: a tool usually of hardened steel with cutting ridges for forming or smoothing surfaces especially of metal
2
: a shrewd or crafty person
filed; filing
: to rub, smooth, or cut away with or as if with a file
She filed her nails.
filed; filing
1
: to arrange in order for preservation and reference
file letters
2
a
: to place among official records as prescribed by law
file a mortgage
b
: to send (copy) to a newspaper
filed a story
c
: to return to the office of the clerk of a court without action on the merits
3
: to initiate (something, such as a legal action) through proper formal procedure
threatened to file charges
1
: to register as a candidate especially in a primary election
2
: to place items in a file
3
: to submit documents necessary to initiate a legal proceeding
file for bankruptcy
1
: a device (such as a folder, case, or cabinet) by means of which papers are kept in order
2
b
: a collection of papers or publications usually arranged or classified
c(1)
: a collection of related data records (as for a computer)
(2)
: a complete collection of data (such as text or a program) treated by a computer as a unit especially for purposes of input and output
1
2
: any of the rows of squares that extend across a chessboard from one player's side to the other player's side
variants
or less commonly file
: powdered young leaves of sassafras used to thicken soups or stews
Synonyms
Examples of file in a Sentence
Verb (1)
beautifully filed nails that obviously had been done by a manicurist
Noun (3)
a long file of people waiting to get tickets to the game
Verb (4)
to the strains of that familiar music, this year's graduating class filed into the auditorium
Recent Examples on the Web
Bram Sable-Smith, NPR, 21 May 2024
Word of his hummingbird feeders has also spread, meaning birders will file in along when the migrating hummers come through after monsoon rain.
—Brandon Loomis, The Arizona Republic, 20 May 2024
Still, backlash was widespread after the video surfaced, given that Cassie initially filed a lawsuit against Diddy in November 2023, which was settled out of court the day after it was filed.
—EW.com, 20 May 2024
The lawsuit was originally filed in New York last year, but was transferred to Fort Worth, where American Airlines is based.
—David Chiu, Peoplemag, 20 May 2024
Which Red Lobster restaurants closed permanently near me? Red Lobster restaurants closed around 90 restaurants before filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection Sunday.
—Gabe Hauari, The Indianapolis Star, 20 May 2024
The Company cannot project an exact date for filing an IND for any of its drugs because of dependence on a number of external collaborators and consultants.
—Charlotte Observer, 20 May 2024
Wilson's longtime manager LeeAnn Hard and publicist Jean Sievers, who filed the conservatorship, were named his conservators.
—Edward Segarra, USA TODAY, 10 May 2024
On summary judgment, the music publishers argued that Nealy didn’t sue within the three-year window to file a lawsuit for copyright infringement.
—Winston Cho, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 May 2024
Jeff A. Chamer, Charlotte Observer, 25 May 2024
There's a basic music player on the phone for local file playback.
—PCMAG, 21 May 2024
In this 2021 file photo, employee Jeffery Flores, right, with general manager Jose Carrillo looks over some of the different varieties of marijuana at Catalyst, the first legal marijuana dispensary in El Monte on Thursday, Nov. 4, 2021.
—Lisa M. Krieger, The Mercury News, 21 May 2024
In fact, according to Georgia state registration files, there were almost 1.7 million new voters in the lead-up to the 2020 elections.
—Doc Louallen, ABC News, 20 May 2024
In addition to the Aston Martin DB5 Instruction Book and tool roll, the car also comes with a comprehensive history file including the original logbook, a copy of the factory build sheet, period correspondence, and restoration invoices.
—Robert Ross, Robb Report, 20 May 2024
Additional voters were interviewed online through voter file sampling and databases known as consumer panels.
—Jeff Barker, Baltimore Sun, 20 May 2024
There’s no clear timeline on when the DOJ plans to officially close its investigation or file suit, and the two sides could meet again to discuss the case.
—Dave Brooks, Billboard, 17 May 2024
Without telling Ohtani, prosecutors said, Mizuhara proceeded to change the email address and phone number on file for Ohtani’s bank account, which meant bank employees would contact Mizuhara about wire transfers from the account.
—Connor Sheets, Los Angeles Times, 8 May 2024
Verb
Some plans also require that travelers file first with their primary health insurance before seeking reimbursement from travel insurance.
—Bram Sable-Smith, NPR, 21 May 2024
Word of his hummingbird feeders has also spread, meaning birders will file in along when the migrating hummers come through after monsoon rain.
—Brandon Loomis, The Arizona Republic, 20 May 2024
Still, backlash was widespread after the video surfaced, given that Cassie initially filed a lawsuit against Diddy in November 2023, which was settled out of court the day after it was filed.
—EW.com, 20 May 2024
The lawsuit was originally filed in New York last year, but was transferred to Fort Worth, where American Airlines is based.
—David Chiu, Peoplemag, 20 May 2024
Which Red Lobster restaurants closed permanently near me? Red Lobster restaurants closed around 90 restaurants before filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection Sunday.
—Gabe Hauari, The Indianapolis Star, 20 May 2024
The Company cannot project an exact date for filing an IND for any of its drugs because of dependence on a number of external collaborators and consultants.
—Charlotte Observer, 20 May 2024
Wilson's longtime manager LeeAnn Hard and publicist Jean Sievers, who filed the conservatorship, were named his conservators.
—Edward Segarra, USA TODAY, 10 May 2024
On summary judgment, the music publishers argued that Nealy didn’t sue within the three-year window to file a lawsuit for copyright infringement.
—Winston Cho, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 May 2024
Noun
Butler presented several documents from Madalina’s school file that contained things such as her birth certificate, student enrollment form and emergency contact form and her class schedule.
—Jeff A. Chamer, Charlotte Observer, 25 May 2024
There's a basic music player on the phone for local file playback.
—PCMAG, 21 May 2024
In this 2021 file photo, employee Jeffery Flores, right, with general manager Jose Carrillo looks over some of the different varieties of marijuana at Catalyst, the first legal marijuana dispensary in El Monte on Thursday, Nov. 4, 2021.
—Lisa M. Krieger, The Mercury News, 21 May 2024
In fact, according to Georgia state registration files, there were almost 1.7 million new voters in the lead-up to the 2020 elections.
—Doc Louallen, ABC News, 20 May 2024
In addition to the Aston Martin DB5 Instruction Book and tool roll, the car also comes with a comprehensive history file including the original logbook, a copy of the factory build sheet, period correspondence, and restoration invoices.
—Robert Ross, Robb Report, 20 May 2024
Additional voters were interviewed online through voter file sampling and databases known as consumer panels.
—Jeff Barker, Baltimore Sun, 20 May 2024
There’s no clear timeline on when the DOJ plans to officially close its investigation or file suit, and the two sides could meet again to discuss the case.
—Dave Brooks, Billboard, 17 May 2024
Without telling Ohtani, prosecutors said, Mizuhara proceeded to change the email address and phone number on file for Ohtani’s bank account, which meant bank employees would contact Mizuhara about wire transfers from the account.
—Connor Sheets, Los Angeles Times, 8 May 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'file.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Articles Related to file
Dictionary Entries Near file
Cite this Entry
“File.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/file. Accessed 29 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
file
1 of 6 noun
: a usually steel tool with sharp ridges or teeth on its surface for smoothing hard substances
file
2 of 6 verb
filed; filing
: to rub, smooth, or cut away with a file
file
3 of 6 verb
filed; filing
1
: to arrange in order for keeping or reference
2
: to enter or record as required by law
file
4 of 6 noun1
: a device (as a folder, case, or cabinet) for keeping papers or records in order
2
a
: a collection of papers or records arranged in order
b
: a collection of data considered as a unit (as for a computer)
file
5 of 6 noun
: a row of persons, animals, or things arranged one behind the other
file
6 of 6 verb
filed; filing
: to march or proceed in file
Etymology
Noun
Old English fēol "tool for smoothing rough edges"
Verb
Middle English filen "to arrange (documents) in order," from Medieval Latin filare "to thread documents on a string," derived from Latin filum "thread" — related to file entry 5
Noun
from early French file "a row of things," from filer (verb) "to spin," derived from Latin filum "thread" — related to file entry 3
Medical Definition
file
noun1
: a tool usually of hardened steel with cutting ridges for forming or smoothing surfaces (as of a tooth)
2
: a narrow instrument for shaping fingernails with a fine rough metal or emery surface
file
transitive verb
filed; filing
Legal Definition
file
1 of 2 verb
filed; filing
1
a
: to submit (a legal document) to the proper office (as the office of a clerk of court) for keeping on file among the records especially as a procedural step in a legal transaction or proceeding
filed a tax return
a financing statement filed with the Secretary of State
filing a notice of appeal
also
: record
filed a mortgage in the Registry of Deeds
Note: In nearly all cases, a document is deemed to be filed when it is actually received by the office to which it is directed. A few cases, however, have held that a document is filed upon the mailing of it.
b
: to place (as a document) on file among the records of an office especially by formally receiving and endorsing
a complaint filed by the clerk despite the absence of the filing fee
2
: to return (the documentation in a case) to the records of a clerk of court without any determination of the case
broadly
: to conclude (a case) without a determination on its merits
3
: to initiate (a judicial or administrative proceeding) by submitting the proper documents or following proper procedure : bring
threatened to file charges
two separate actions were filed by representatives of the estates—J. H. Friedenthal et al.
J. H. Friedenthal et al.1
: to register as a candidate especially in a primary election
2
: to place items in a file
file
2 of 2 noun
: a collection of papers or publications usually arranged or classified
specifically
: the papers that make up the record of a case
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