1
as in loads
to put into (something) as much as can be held or contained
fill the basket with apples
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in packs
to close up so that no empty spaces remain
before starting to paint, fill all the cracks with putty
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in fulfills
to do what is required by the terms of
orders received by this date will be filled in time for Christmas delivery of the merchandise
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in fillings
soft material that is used to fill the hollow parts of something
we ripped the tag off years ago, so we have no idea what the fill in that pillow is
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of fills
Lauren Schuster, Charlotte Observer, 27 Apr. 2026
The 6-foot-1, 230-pounder fills an obvious hole in Indy’s defense after the team traded multiyear starter and captain Zaire Franklin to the Green Bay Packers last month.
—Sam Warren, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2026
Scott, now, is the latest in the line of Fighting Illini to land in Denver, and fills a depth need at safety behind starters Brandon Jones and Talanoa Hufanga.
—Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 25 Apr. 2026
Lomu fills a major need at tackle for the Patriots, who must plan for a future without starter Morgan Moses, who’s 35 years old.
—Doug Kyed, Boston Herald, 25 Apr. 2026
Bailey, at 6-foot-4 and 251 pounds, is a talented pass rusher who had 14 1/2 sacks last season and fills an immediate need.
—Jeff Capellini, CBS News, 24 Apr. 2026
On a searing hot day in Mattiyarenthal, a village in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, women farmers toil over chile pepper plants as their sharp, pungent scent fills the air.
—Suzanne Nuyen, NPR, 20 Apr. 2026
Its data have helped scientists understand pressure fronts and other structures within the interstellar medium that fills the void beyond the edge of the solar system.
—Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 20 Apr. 2026
Minnesota needed a lead guard and Evans fills the role after the U brought in wings Grayson Grove (Texas Tech) and Winters Grady (Michigan) and center Malick Kordel (Michigan).
—Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 18 Apr. 2026
Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 14 Apr. 2026
Some of the musical pleasures in the show feel age-old, like Roy Bittan’s piano licks and Max Weinberg’s furious fills.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 10 Apr. 2026
Another relatively new replacement, Ethan Baechtold (in the band since 2023), offered the brooding low end on bass to round Wednesday's sound, while Alan Miller delivered heavy fills and heart-racing builds on drums.
—Piet Levy, jsonline.com, 28 Mar. 2026
Featuring incoherent lyrics accompanied by experimental guitar riffs and hardcore drum fills, it was recorded in San Antonio without the Matthews brothers, reportedly because of a physical altercation between the brothers and Haynes.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 19 Mar. 2026
Platinum requires 12 regular fills or six premium fills in the same timeframe.
—Ryley Amond, CNBC, 17 Feb. 2026
The average American over age 65 fills or refills an average of 32 prescriptions per year, with 20% taking more than 10 unique medications per year.
—Ryan N. Hansen, STAT, 5 Feb. 2026
Drummer Stuart Springthorpe is the secret co-MVP of Watching, keeping its molasses-slow time and inserting infrequent but always impactful tom-heavy fills into the album’s surfeit of negative space.
—Brad Sanders, Pitchfork, 17 Jan. 2026
Insulation still matters at this price point—some coats use down while others rely on high-performing synthetic fills that are often easier (and cheaper) to maintain.
—Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 11 Jan. 2026
Verb
Be sure to book weeks ahead — this one fills up fast.
—Lauren Schuster, Charlotte Observer, 27 Apr. 2026
The 6-foot-1, 230-pounder fills an obvious hole in Indy’s defense after the team traded multiyear starter and captain Zaire Franklin to the Green Bay Packers last month.
—Sam Warren, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2026
Scott, now, is the latest in the line of Fighting Illini to land in Denver, and fills a depth need at safety behind starters Brandon Jones and Talanoa Hufanga.
—Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 25 Apr. 2026
Lomu fills a major need at tackle for the Patriots, who must plan for a future without starter Morgan Moses, who’s 35 years old.
—Doug Kyed, Boston Herald, 25 Apr. 2026
Bailey, at 6-foot-4 and 251 pounds, is a talented pass rusher who had 14 1/2 sacks last season and fills an immediate need.
—Jeff Capellini, CBS News, 24 Apr. 2026
On a searing hot day in Mattiyarenthal, a village in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, women farmers toil over chile pepper plants as their sharp, pungent scent fills the air.
—Suzanne Nuyen, NPR, 20 Apr. 2026
Its data have helped scientists understand pressure fronts and other structures within the interstellar medium that fills the void beyond the edge of the solar system.
—Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 20 Apr. 2026
Minnesota needed a lead guard and Evans fills the role after the U brought in wings Grayson Grove (Texas Tech) and Winters Grady (Michigan) and center Malick Kordel (Michigan).
—Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 18 Apr. 2026
Noun
And the fills, like those with lightweight eucalyptus and mulberry silk, are usually airy and hypoallergenic.
—Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 14 Apr. 2026
Some of the musical pleasures in the show feel age-old, like Roy Bittan’s piano licks and Max Weinberg’s furious fills.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 10 Apr. 2026
Another relatively new replacement, Ethan Baechtold (in the band since 2023), offered the brooding low end on bass to round Wednesday's sound, while Alan Miller delivered heavy fills and heart-racing builds on drums.
—Piet Levy, jsonline.com, 28 Mar. 2026
Featuring incoherent lyrics accompanied by experimental guitar riffs and hardcore drum fills, it was recorded in San Antonio without the Matthews brothers, reportedly because of a physical altercation between the brothers and Haynes.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 19 Mar. 2026
Platinum requires 12 regular fills or six premium fills in the same timeframe.
—Ryley Amond, CNBC, 17 Feb. 2026
The average American over age 65 fills or refills an average of 32 prescriptions per year, with 20% taking more than 10 unique medications per year.
—Ryan N. Hansen, STAT, 5 Feb. 2026
Drummer Stuart Springthorpe is the secret co-MVP of Watching, keeping its molasses-slow time and inserting infrequent but always impactful tom-heavy fills into the album’s surfeit of negative space.
—Brad Sanders, Pitchfork, 17 Jan. 2026
Insulation still matters at this price point—some coats use down while others rely on high-performing synthetic fills that are often easier (and cheaper) to maintain.
—Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 11 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fills
Verb
-
The delivery person just loads the food and selects the room number.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
30 Apr. 2026
-
The world's largest car carrier, BYD ''Shenzhen'', loads over 7,000 BYD new energy commercial vehicles at Haitong Terminal in Taicang Port Area, Suzhou Port, and sets sail for Brazil in Taicang City, Jiangsu Province, China, on April 27, 2025.—
Evelyn Cheng,Matthew Chin,
CNBC,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Our expert take The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card packs a punch for a $95 annual fee card, offering annual travel credits, comprehensive travel protections and more.—
Jason Stauffer,
CNBC,
27 Apr. 2026
-
The ultimate scene packs a punch here — without spoiling things, Abigail Onwunali is particularly powerful in a role that Wilson saves till the eleventh hour, and Boone goes to places at once frightening and devastating.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The association fulfills its human rights mandate through protest campaigns in opposition to censorship and by fighting for the release of journalists who have been imprisoned for their work.—
Marlen Bartsch,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
27 Apr. 2026
-
While the company still fulfills those practical needs, Hurtigruten now has small cruise ships that welcome tourists along for the ride.—
Karen Gardiner,
Travel + Leisure,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Spring is prime time for making all kinds of airy and bright desserts using fresh berries and jammy fruit fillings.—
Victoria Caruso,
Washington Post,
26 Apr. 2026
-
Allow plenty of time to make fillings, and immediately assemble stacks.—
Patricia S York,
Southern Living,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Director Allan Deberton crams much story and characterization in those opening frames.—
Murtada Elfadl,
Variety,
24 Feb. 2026
-
Instead, the show crams everything into a space that can't hold it, culminating in this past third season that exploded with too much of practically everything.—
Matthew Razak,
Space.com,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Another distinction is its saddle and seatpost, which form a unit that plugs into a corner of the square motor/battery assembly.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
16 Apr. 2026
-
For older systems, travelers can purchase additional accessories like AirFly, which plugs into the headphone jack and connects to wireless headphones via Bluetooth.—
Michael Cappetta,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Director Gay has sculpted a staging that is faithful to a more leisurely 19th-century storytelling style, yet satisfies modern audiences’ constant craving for stimulation.—
Rob Hubbard,
Twin Cities,
24 Apr. 2026
-
And Central Florida’s Lawrence satisfies Niners’ desire for speed and explosiveness to complement Nick Bosa.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
At home, Jonathan Wright, director of the Indianapolis art museum's park and gardens, stuffs in the plants, stacks the pots, and lets everything grow.—
Teresa Woodard,
Midwest Living,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Tyler Cameron happily stuffs his face at the launch of Panera's new salad stuffers during an intimate dinner in New York.—
Toria Sheffield,
PEOPLE,
13 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fills.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fills. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
