1fill 
/ˈfɪl/ verb
fills; filled; fill·ing /ˈfɪl/ verb 1 a [+ obj] : to make (something) full
▪ May I fill your glass for you? ▪ fill (up) a glass with water ▪ He told the gas station attendant to fill it/her up. [=to fill the tank of his car with gasoline] ▪ Clothes filled the closet. ▪ She filled her house with antiques. ▪ His massive body filled the doorway. ▪ He has enough books to fill a library. ▪ Two hundred people filled the room. ▪ fill a sheet of paper with writing ▪ Tears filled her eyes. [=she began to cry] ▪ Joy filled her heart. [=she became very joyful] ▪ He filled her head with lies [=he told her many lies] about his military service. ▪ pastries filled with meat = meat-filled pastries ▪ a vase filled with flowers ▪ stadiums filled with cheering fans ▪ The theater was filled to capacity. [=completely full] ◊If something fills you or fills your heart with an emotion, it makes you feel that emotion very strongly.
▪ The thought of leaving fills me with sadness. [=makes me very sad] ▪ I'm filled with shame [=I'm very ashamed] when I think of how I treated her. ▪ The news filled their hearts with hope. [=made them very hopeful]
b [no obj] : to become full
▪ Her eyes filled with tears. [=she began to cry] ▪ Her heart filled with joy. [=she became very joyful] ▪ The rivers have filled and are close to flooding. ▪ The stadium filled more than an hour before the game. 2 [+ obj] : to spread all through (an area, the air, etc.)
▪ Smoke filled the room. ▪ Laughter filled the air. ▪ The smell of fried onions filled the house. ▪ Tension filled the air as we waited for further news. 3 [+ obj] : to spend or use (time)
▪ She likes to fill (up) her day with small chores. ▪ Since he retired he doesn't know how to fill his time. ▪ a fun-filled afternoon [=an afternoon filled with fun; a very enjoyable afternoon] 4 : to make (someone) full with food and drink — usually + up [+ obj] ▪ foods that won't fill you up [no obj] ▪ We filled up on sandwiches before leaving for the game. 5 [+ obj] : to place material inside of (a hole, crack, etc.) in order to repair a surface
▪ fill a crack with putty ▪ workers filling potholes ▪ fill a cavity in a tooth = fill a tooth [=put filling in a cavity/tooth] — often used figuratively ▪ He's trying to fill the gaps in his record collection. [=trying to get the records he needs to make his collection complete] ▪ These new discoveries will help to fill a gap in our knowledge of how the human body ages. ▪ Some other player will have to fill the void left by his retirement. 6 [+ obj] : to do or provide what is needed for (something)
▪ fill [=fulfill] all requirements ▪ fill a need 7 [+ obj] a : to perform the work of (an office, position, etc.)
▪ fill [=hold, occupy] the office of president ▪ A new representative will be appointed to fill his vacated seat.
b : to hire a person for a job that has become available
▪ The company hopes to fill several vacancies in its marketing department. ▪ fill a job opening 8 [+ obj] : to provide the things that are asked for in (something, such as an order)
▪ fill an order ▪ (US) fill a prescription [=(Brit) make up a prescription]
▪ May I fill your glass for you? ▪ fill (up) a glass with water ▪ He told the gas station attendant to fill it/her up. [=to fill the tank of his car with gasoline] ▪ Clothes filled the closet. ▪ She filled her house with antiques. ▪ His massive body filled the doorway. ▪ He has enough books to fill a library. ▪ Two hundred people filled the room. ▪ fill a sheet of paper with writing ▪ Tears filled her eyes. [=she began to cry] ▪ Joy filled her heart. [=she became very joyful] ▪ He filled her head with lies [=he told her many lies] about his military service. ▪ pastries filled with meat = meat-filled pastries ▪ a vase filled with flowers ▪ stadiums filled with cheering fans ▪ The theater was filled to capacity. [=completely full] ◊If something fills you or fills your heart with an emotion, it makes you feel that emotion very strongly.
▪ The thought of leaving fills me with sadness. [=makes me very sad] ▪ I'm filled with shame [=I'm very ashamed] when I think of how I treated her. ▪ The news filled their hearts with hope. [=made them very hopeful]
b [no obj] : to become full
▪ Her eyes filled with tears. [=she began to cry] ▪ Her heart filled with joy. [=she became very joyful] ▪ The rivers have filled and are close to flooding. ▪ The stadium filled more than an hour before the game.
▪ Smoke filled the room. ▪ Laughter filled the air. ▪ The smell of fried onions filled the house. ▪ Tension filled the air as we waited for further news.
▪ She likes to fill (up) her day with small chores. ▪ Since he retired he doesn't know how to fill his time. ▪ a fun-filled afternoon [=an afternoon filled with fun; a very enjoyable afternoon]
▪ fill a crack with putty ▪ workers filling potholes ▪ fill a cavity in a tooth = fill a tooth [=put filling in a cavity/tooth] — often used figuratively ▪ He's trying to fill the gaps in his record collection. [=trying to get the records he needs to make his collection complete] ▪ These new discoveries will help to fill a gap in our knowledge of how the human body ages. ▪ Some other player will have to fill the void left by his retirement.
▪ fill [=fulfill] all requirements ▪ fill a need
▪ fill [=hold, occupy] the office of president ▪ A new representative will be appointed to fill his vacated seat.
b : to hire a person for a job that has become available
▪ The company hopes to fill several vacancies in its marketing department. ▪ fill a job opening
▪ fill an order ▪ (US) fill a prescription [=(Brit) make up a prescription]
fill in [phrasal verb] 1 fill (something) in or fill in (something) a : to complete (a document) by providing necessary information
▪ fill in an application ▪ fill in an order form ▪ Please fill in the blanks. [=put information in the blank spaces] — sometimes used figuratively ▪ At the end of the movie, the narrator goes back and fills in (all) the blanks. [=the narrator provides missing information about the movie's plot]
b : to provide (more information)
▪ Just tell me the most important parts—you can fill in the details later. 2 fill (someone) in or fill in (someone) : to provide information to (someone)
▪ I missed the meeting so I need someone to fill me in (on what happened). ▪ She filled us in on the details. 3 fill in : to take the place of (someone who is away for a time)
▪ He can't be here today, so he asked me to fill in. — often + for ▪ He asked me to fill in for him. — see also fill-in
▪ fill in an application ▪ fill in an order form ▪ Please fill in the blanks. [=put information in the blank spaces] — sometimes used figuratively ▪ At the end of the movie, the narrator goes back and fills in (all) the blanks. [=the narrator provides missing information about the movie's plot]
b : to provide (more information)
▪ Just tell me the most important parts—you can fill in the details later.
▪ I missed the meeting so I need someone to fill me in (on what happened). ▪ She filled us in on the details.
▪ He can't be here today, so he asked me to fill in. — often + for ▪ He asked me to fill in for him. — see also fill-in
fill out [phrasal verb] 1 : to increase in size : to become larger and heavier
▪ The tree looks weak now but should begin to fill out in a few years. ▪ It was easier to find clothes that fit him once he began to fill out. 2 fill (something) out or fill out (something) chiefly US : to complete (something, such as a form) by providing necessary information
▪ fill out [=fill in] a form ▪ fill out an application
▪ The tree looks weak now but should begin to fill out in a few years. ▪ It was easier to find clothes that fit him once he began to fill out.
▪ fill out [=fill in] a form ▪ fill out an application
fill someone's shoes
: to take someone's place or position
▪ No one will be able to fill her shoes after she retires.
▪ No one will be able to fill her shoes after she retires.
fill the bill — see 1bill
