filling

noun

fill·​ing ˈfi-liŋ 

1

: an act or instance of filling

2

: something used to fill a cavity, container, or depression

3

: something that completes: such as

a

: the yarn interlacing the warp in a fabric

also : yarn for the shuttle

b

: a food mixture used to fill pastry or sandwiches

Synonyms

• fill
• filler
• padding
• stuffing
• wadding

Examples of filling in a Sentence

a filling for a tooth

pies that need more filling

Recent Examples on the Web

Coming up this fall—Ferrero Rocher chocolate squares, which is an iteration of the classic chocolate shell with a creamy filling in Milk Hazelnut, Dark Hazelnut, White Hazelnut, and Caramel Hazelnut varieties. —Katlyn Moncada, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 May 2025

Its 100 percent cotton batting is secured by decorative stitching, which adds texture and ensures the filling remains evenly distributed throughout. —Maggie Horton, People.com, 13 May 2025

More to Read Still Deco after all these years: Robert Landau’s L.A. images showcase the enduring style May 7, 2025 Getting a filling — at the mall. —Dave Schilling, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2025

Some grappling dummies require filling, while others come filled. —Bestreviews, Mercury News, 12 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing filling

• filling station

Rhymes for filling

• billing
• chilling
• drilling
• grilling
• killing
• milling
• pilling
• rilling
• schilling
• shilling
• skilling
• spilling

Kids Definition

filling

noun

fill·​ing ˈfil-iŋ 

1

: material that is used to fill something

a filling for a tooth

2

: something that completes: as

a

: the yarn crossing over and under the warp in a fabric

b

: a food mixture used to fill pastry or sandwiches

Medical Definition

filling

noun

fill·​ing ˈfil-iŋ 

1

: material (as gold or amalgam) used to fill a cavity in a tooth

2

: simple sporadic lymphangitis of the leg of a horse commonly due to overfeeding and insufficient exercise