fill

fillverb

To fill something is to put so much into a space, a time, or a place that it is no longer empty.

1. make fullmake something full, or become full

   transitive or intransitive [T/I] verb + object [V + obj] verb + object + preposition + object [V + obj + prep + obj] verb + preposition + object [V + prep + obj]

   • She filled the glass with water. V + obj + prep + obj
   • Fill the bottle to the top. V + obj
   • The room slowly filled with smoke. V + prep + obj
   • His eyes filled with tears. V + prep + obj

   Collocations

   verb + noun fill a glass, fill a bottle, fill the tank

   verb + preposition fill something with something, fill with something

   Antonyms empty

2. a holeput a substance into a hole or a crack so that it is closed

   transitive [T] verb + object [V + obj] verb + object + preposition + object [V + obj + prep + obj]

   • We filled the cracks in the wall. V + obj
   • The dentist filled two of my teeth. V + obj
   • They filled the hole with sand. V + obj + prep + obj

   Collocations

   verb + noun fill a hole, fill a crack, fill a tooth

3. be everywherebe present in every part of a place

   transitive [T] verb + object [V + obj]

   • Laughter filled the house. V + obj
   • The smell of fresh bread filled the kitchen. V + obj
   • Crowds filled the streets. V + obj

   Collocations

   verb + noun fill the room, fill the air, fill the streets

4. a feelingmake someone have a strong feeling

   transitive [T] verb + object + preposition + object [V + obj + prep + obj]

   • The news filled her with hope. V + obj + prep + obj
   • The thought of the exam filled him with fear. V + obj + prep + obj

   Collocations

   verb + preposition fill someone with joy, fill someone with fear, fill someone with pride

5. a jobfind a person for a job that is empty, or take a job that was empty

   transitive [T] verb + object [V + obj]

   • We need to fill three positions by the end of the month. V + obj
   • The job was filled very quickly. V + obj (passive)
   • She was hired to fill the position her boss had left. V + obj

   Collocations

   verb + noun fill a position, fill a job, fill a vacancy, fill a post

6. timeuse a period of time by doing something

   transitive [T] verb + object [V + obj] verb + object + preposition + object [V + obj + prep + obj]

   • He fills his evenings with reading. V + obj + prep + obj
   • I filled the time by walking around the shops. V + obj

   Collocations

   verb + noun fill your time, fill the day, fill the hours

7. supplysupply what is needed or asked for

   Fill a prescription is mainly American English.

   transitive [T] verb + object [V + obj]

   • The new store fills a real need in the town. V + obj
   • The pharmacist filled my prescription in ten minutes. V + obj
   • We could not fill all the orders last week. V + obj

   Collocations

   verb + noun fill a need, fill an order, fill a prescription, fill a gap

See also fill in; fill out; fill up