fill

To put things into a space or container until it is full.

• Please fill the glass.
• She filled her bag with clothes.
• We added an extra activity to fill the gap in the schedule.

How to use it: fill something with something (Fill the bottle with water.)

Opposites: empty

Common phrases: fill a glass, fill something with, fill a gap, fill a bottle

To write the information needed in the empty spaces on a form.

• Please fill in your name.
• He filled out the application yesterday.
• Have you filled in all the required details?

How to use it: fill in/out something (Please fill in this form.); fill something in/out (She filled the application form out online.)

Similar words: complete

Common phrases: fill in something, fill out something, fill in details

To enter or spread through a place until there is little or no space left.

• Smoke filled the room.
• Hundreds of fans filled the stadium.
• The sound of children laughing filled the air.

Common phrases: fill the room, fill the air, fill a hall

If someone grows broader or gains weight, their body becomes less thin.

• He began to fill out at sixteen.
• Her figure filled out as she grew older.
• You have filled out since I last saw you.

How to use it: fill out (His shoulders began to fill out as he grew older.)

Common phrases: fill out, begin to fill, gradually fill out

As much food, drink, or another experience as someone wants or can accept.

• Eat your fill before we leave.
• After three bowls of soup, he had his fill.
• I have had my fill of bad news this week.

How to use it: have one’s fill of something (I have had my fill of arguments today.); eat/drink one’s fill (Everyone ate their fill at the party.)

Common phrases: eat your fill, have your fill, someone’s fill of

Material used to occupy empty spaces, especially earth or stones used in building work.

• The workers brought in more fill.
• Old bricks were used as fill beneath the path.
• The foundations rest on a deep layer of compacted fill.

Similar words: filler, backfill

Common phrases: use as fill, loose fill, fill material

An amount of material or liquid that makes a container full.

• The tank needs another fill.
• One fill of water lasts two days.
• The mixer returned for a fresh fill of concrete.

How to use it: fill of something (The mixer returned for another fill of concrete.)

Similar words: load, tankful

Common phrases: a fresh fill, another fill, fill of something

An act of putting material or liquid into a container or area.

• Each fill takes ten seconds.
• The machine completes thirty fills per minute.
• We stopped production after an incomplete fill.

Similar words: filling

Common phrases: automatic fill, fill cycle, fills per minute