Fill
/fɪl/
verbnounA2
Definition
As a verb, fill means to put something into a space or container until it is full or has enough inside. As a noun, fill means the amount of material that fills a space or the act of filling. It is used in everyday situations, like filling a glass with water or filling a form with information.
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See It in Action
To put something into a space until it is full (verb)
- •Please fill the glass with water.
- •She filled the bucket with sand.
- •They filled the room with balloons for the party.
The amount or space that is full (noun)
- •The fill of the bottle was about half.
- •The hole was repaired with a dirt fill.
- •The dentist put a fill in the tooth to stop the pain.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "fill" like "put," but with the goal to make something full or complete
- ✓Picture pouring water into a glass until no space is left inside
- ✓It's the feeling when your bag is full of things, and you can’t put more in
- ✓Sounds like "fill" → imagine a bottle being filled with a "fill" sound like water pouring in
- ✓In stories, characters fill jars with food to prepare for winter, making sure nothing is empty
- ✓NOT like "empty" (which means no content), "fill" means the opposite—adding content
- ✓NOT like "cover" (which means putting something on top), "fill" means putting something inside or throughout
- ✓NOT like "add" (which means to put more), "fill" means to reach full or enough, not just a little more
Try Other Words
- •Stuff: to put a lot inside (Use when the action is very full or crowded)
- •Load: to put objects into something (Use when putting many things, often heavy or large)
- •Complete: to finish or make whole (Use when filling means finishing something like a form or task)
- •Supply: to provide what is needed (Use when filling means giving what is missing)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: "fill" is a simple root word with no prefix or suffix
- •Etymology: From Old English "fyllan," meaning to make full or supply
- •Historical development: Used since early English to mean making something full or supplying what is needed
- •Modern usage: Common verb and noun used in many daily activities like filling containers, forms, or spaces
Reflect & Connect
•How do you feel when you fill something completely? Is it satisfying or stressful?
•Can "fill" be used in both physical and abstract ways (like filling time or filling a role)? How do these meanings connect?
Fill in the blanks
1.To make the bottle ready, you need to fill it ___ with water before use.
2.She used a pen to fill the form ___ with her personal information.
3.The room was filled ___ with decorations for the celebration.
4.Unlike just putting one item, to fill means to put enough to ___ the whole space.
5.When you fill a glass, you usually stop when it is ___.
6.The dentist put a fill ___ the tooth to stop the pain.
7.You can fill a container, but you cannot fill it if it already has no ___ left.