fill

Syllabification: (fill)

Pronunciation: /fil/

Definition of fill

[with object]

put someone or something into (a space or container) so that it is completely or almost completely full:I filled up the bottle with water the office was filled with reporters
[no object] (fill with) become full of:Eleanor’s eyes filled with tears
become an overwhelming presence in:a pungent smell of garlic filled the air
cause (someone) to have an intense experience of an emotion or feeling:his presence filled us with foreboding
appoint a person to hold (a vacant position):the number of high-tech jobs and the people who can fill them
hold and perform the expected duties of (a position or role):she fills the role of the “good” child
occupy or take up (a period of time):the next few days were filled with meetings
be supplied with the items described in (a prescription or order):she needed to fill a prescription
block up (a cavity in a tooth) with cement, amalgam, or gold.
[no object] (of a sail) curve out tautly as the wind blows into it.
(of a weather system) increase in barometric pressure. Compare with deepen.
[with object] (of the wind) blow into (a sail), causing it to curve outward.
Poker complete (a good hand) by drawing the necessary cards.

1 (one's fill) an amount of something that is as much as one wants or can bear:we have eaten our fill I’ve had my fill of surprises for one day

2an amount of something that will occupy all the space in a container.
material, loose or compacted, that fills a space, especially in building or engineering work:loose polystyrene fill
the action of filling something, especially of shading in a region of a computer graphics display.
(in popular music) a short interjected phrase on a particular instrument.

Phrases

fill the bill: see bill¹.
fill someone's shoes: informal take over someone’s function or duties and fulfill them satisfactorily.

fill in: act as a substitute for someone when they are unable to do their job:my producer will have to have someone standing by to fill in for me
fill someone in
fill something in: put material into a hole, trench, or space so that it is completely full:the canal is now disused and partly filled in; complete a drawing by adding color or shade to the spaces within an outline:incised letters, filled in with gold; chiefly British add information to complete something, typically a form or other official document:he filled in all the forms
fill out: (of a person) put on weight to a noticeable extent.
fill something out: add information to complete an official form or document:he filled out the requisite forms; give more details to add to someone’s understanding of something:he filled out the background by going into historical questions
fill up: become completely full:the dining car filled up; fill the fuel tank of a car.

Old English fyllan (verb), fyllu (noun) of Germanic origin; related to Dutch vullen and German füllen (verbs), Fülle (noun), also to full¹

Definition of fill in the British & World English dictionary