(~s, ~ing, ~ed)
Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English.
1.
If you ~ a container or area, or if it ~s, an amount of something enters it that is enough to make it full.
Fill a saucepan with water and bring to a slow boil...
She made sandwiches, ~ed a flask and put sugar in...
The boy’s eyes ~ed with tears...
While the bath was ~ing, he padded about in his underpants.
? empty
VERB: V n with n, V n, V with n, V
•
Fill up means the same as ~ .
Pass me your cup, Amy, and I’ll ~ it up for you...
Warehouses at the frontier between the two countries ~ up with sacks of rice and flour.
PHRASAL VERB: V n P, V P with n, also V P, V P n (not pron)
2.
If something ~s a space, it is so big, or there are such large quantities of it, that there is very little room left.
He cast his eyes at the rows of cabinets that ~ed the enormous work area...
The text ~s 231 pages.
VERB: V n, V n
•
Fill up means the same as ~ .
...the complicated machines that ~ up today’s laboratories.
PHRASAL VERB: V P n (not pron), also V n P
~ed
...four museum buildings ~ed with historical objects.
ADJ: v-link ADJ with n
-~ed
...the flower-~ed courtyard of an old Spanish colonial house.
COMB in ADJ
3.
If you ~ a crack or hole, you put a substance into it in order to make the surface smooth again.
Fill small holes with wood ~er in a matching colour...
The gravedigger ~ed the grave.
VERB: V n with n, V n
•
Fill in means the same as ~ .
If any cracks have appeared in the tart case, ~ these in with raw pastry.
PHRASAL VERB: V n P, also V P n (not pron)
4.
If a sound, smell, or light ~s a space, or the air, it is very strong or noticeable.
In the parking lot of the school, the siren ~ed the air...
All the light bars were turned on which ~ed the room with these rotating beams of light...
VERB: V n, V n with n
-~ed
...those whose work forces them to be in dusty or smoke-~ed environments.
COMB in ADJ
5.
If something ~s you with an emotion, or if an emotion ~s you, you experience this emotion strongly.
I admired my father, and his work ~ed me with awe and curiosity...
He looked at me without speaking, and for the first time I could see the pride that ~ed him...
VERB: V n with n, V n
6.
If you ~ a period of time with a particular activity, you spend the time in this way.
If she wants a routine to ~ her day, let her do community work.
VERB: V n, also V n with n
•
Fill up means the same as ~ .
On Thursday night she went to her yoga class, glad to have something to ~ up the evening.
PHRASAL VERB: V P n (not pron), also V n P
7.
If something ~s a need or a gap, it puts an end to this need or gap by existing or being active.
She brought him a sense of fun, of gaiety that ~ed a gap in his life.
VERB: V n
8.
If something ~s a role, position, or function, they have that role or position, or perform that function, often successfully.
Dena was ~ing the role of diplomat’s wife with the skill she had learned over the years.
= perform
VERB: V n
9.
If a company or organization ~s a job vacancy, they choose someone to do the job. If someone ~s a job vacancy, they accept a job that they have been offered.
One problem not mentioned is the unemployed may not have the skills to ~ the vacancies on offer...
A vacancy has arisen which I intend to ~.
VERB: V n, V n
10.
When a dentist ~s someone’s tooth, he or she puts a ~ing in it.
It is almost impossible to find a dentist who will ~ a tooth on the National Health.
VERB: V n
11.
If you ~ an order or a prescription, you provide the things that are asked for. (mainly AM)
A pharmacist can ~ any prescription if, in his or her judgment, the prescription is valid.
VERB: V n
12.
to ~ the bill: see bill