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

Classic Deviled Eggs The filling for this no-frills deviled egg recipe is made with just the basics: mayonnaise, mustard, and sweet pickle relish. —Jenna Sims, Southern Living, 19 Apr. 2025

After popping the balloon, their little ones joined in on the excitement and cut into a cake that had pink filling. —Dayna Haffenden, People.com, 17 Apr. 2025

Run your knife all around the little sandwich squares to smooth out the filling and seal the edges. —Linda Zavoral, Mercury News, 15 Apr. 2025

The invitees were crammed around the small tables set up in front of the store, sampling the various flavors: potato, spinach, cheese and corn — a new and unexpected filling that several guests announced as a favorite. —Rachel Ringler, Sun Sentinel, 1 Apr. 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