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
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Recent Examples of filling
Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 25 May 2026
It’s made with breathable cotton on both sides of the cover, and its lightweight filling is just heavy enough to stay comfortable without feeling hot on summer nights.
—Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 25 May 2026
Sanjay Srivastava, Forbes.com, 31 Aug. 2025
Lilyanna D'amato, ARTnews.com, 28 May 2026
The series seems to be filling a need.
—Anne Thompson, IndieWire, 28 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for filling
Noun
Dentists use it to make crowns and fillings, and it has also been used to make bone cement for orthopedic procedures.
—Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 25 May 2026
It’s made with breathable cotton on both sides of the cover, and its lightweight filling is just heavy enough to stay comfortable without feeling hot on summer nights.
—Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 25 May 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
Holzinger has spent the past decade building a reputation as one of Europe’s most uncompromising performance artists—filling opera houses and theaters with motorbikes, helicopters, heavy machinery, nudity, and feats of endurance that test what a body can withstand.
—Lilyanna D'amato, ARTnews.com, 28 May 2026
The series seems to be filling a need.
—Anne Thompson, IndieWire, 28 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for filling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for filling
Noun
-
The state can help by supporting educator recruitment pipelines (especially in hard-to-fill positions), improving funding models, investing in mental health services and ensuring long-term, sustained investments in literacy and student support programs.—
Mercury News & East Bay Times Editorial Boards,
Mercury News,
26 May 2026
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The port will create the land for the project through a massive dredge-and-fill operation in the water.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
24 May 2026
Verb
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In demonstrations, it has been shown performing a range of domestic tasks, including chopping vegetables, frying eggs, loading a washing machine, hanging laundry, making a bed, and opening curtains, according to Fast Company.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
25 May 2026
-
Despite having two outs, Tinsley gave up two singles and an equal number of walks, loading the bases and giving up another run.—
Liana Handler,
Los Angeles Times,
24 May 2026
Verb
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Further, according to a TSA spokesperson, packing food that looks suspicious on X-ray, like powders or dense snacks, often gets your bag flagged.—
Jillian Dara,
Travel + Leisure,
23 May 2026
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Picnic dinners are allowed and encouraged, so packing and bringing your own food could be another way to save money at the event.—
Kendrick Calfee
May 22,
Kansas City Star,
22 May 2026
Verb
-
All of these rely entirely on Starship fulfilling its promise of rapid, low-cost, reusable launch.—
Eric Berger,
ArsTechnica,
22 May 2026
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But there is a difference between building a fulfilling career and developing one designed to impress strangers.—
Cheryl Robinson,
Forbes.com,
22 May 2026
Verb
-
That’s cramming too many homes on limited acreage, especially in an area where traffic is already dangerous because of so many new developments, two neighbors told the board to applause from the Town Hall audience.—
Joe Marusak
May 27,
Charlotte Observer,
27 May 2026
-
Clark agreed with Reinhart’s observations, but warned that the four-day workweek wasn’t so much as cramming a 40-hour week into four days as a genuine reduction to 32 hours, one that respected an employee’s life outside of work.—
Catherina Gioino,
Fortune,
20 May 2026
Verb
-
French maintained a tight lead against incumbent Jim Wright, a fifth-generation rancher running for his second term whose primary campaign priorities included reducing red tape for new oil production, plugging orphan wells, and defending landowner rights.—
Emily Holshouser
May 27,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
27 May 2026
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Wacha kept plugging along, however.—
Jaylon Thompson,
Kansas City Star,
25 May 2026
Verb
-
Light, refreshing, and summery, this elegant but satisfying shrimp salad is ready in minutes and can be made ahead and served chilled.—
Lizzy Briskin,
Better Homes & Gardens,
28 May 2026
-
The key to a sweaty-and-satisfying workout?—
Amina Ayoud,
Footwear News,
28 May 2026
Adjective
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The mouthfeel is smooth and substantial, richer than many entry-level bourbons yet not syrupy or cloying.—
Joseph V Micallef,
Forbes.com,
26 May 2026
-
And also very joyous without being sentimental or cloying.—
Dave Quinn,
PEOPLE,
22 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Filling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/filling. Accessed 30 May. 2026.
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