ENGLISH
REFERENCE

fill out

phr. v..
A2 Elementary Oxford American English General-service

phr. v.. to write all the information needed on a document or form.

phr. v.. to complete a document by providing required information in the designated spaces; typically used for applications, surveys, or official records.


SIMPLE

Please fill out this form with your name and address.

CONTEXTUAL

You need to fill out the application carefully before you submit it to the office.

COMPLEX

The patient was requested to fill out a comprehensive medical history questionnaire prior to their initial consultation with the specialist.

Origin

In the sense of to complete a form, originally attested in American English; possibly as a calque of German ausfüllen. Later spread to British English, where it now competes with the traditional expression fill in.

Particles
out
Separability
optional
Pattern
fill + out + object
Usage

commonly used with nouns like form, application, survey, or questionnaire.

Teaching tip

contrast with 'fill in' (British English preference) and 'fill up' (used for containers like a glass or a gas tank); 'fill out' is the standard American term for documents.

Pitfall

I need to fill out of the form.I need to fill out the form.do not use 'of' after 'out' when using this phrasal verb with an object.

© 2026 English Reference