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

Our testers also thought the blanket's fill was relatively thin, but its construction allowed the filling to remain evenly distributed. —Toni Sutton, People.com, 23 Jan. 2025

Canned beans, for example, might be a low-cost way to make a meal feel a little more filling. —Madeline Holcombe, CNN, 14 Jan. 2025

The bits of almond are a nice textural contrast to the buttery, sugary filling and pastry. —Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 11 Jan. 2025

For a more subtle shimmer, Cotton Incorporated’s development team made a plain weave fabric with indigo yarns in the warp, a black and gold Lurex yarn in the filling. —Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 9 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing filling

• filling station

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