# filled

/ˈfɪɫd/ (US) · /fˈɪld/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/filled
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. made full

verb · CEFR A2

to have put enough of something into a container so that there is no more room.

For teachers: the past tense of 'fill', indicating the completion of the act of making a space or container full.

- He filled the glass with cold water from the kitchen tap.
- The technician filled the reservoir to the maximum level before initiating the pressure test on the hydraulic system.

Usage: Often followed by the preposition 'with'.

### 2. occupied a space

verb · CEFR B1

to have spread through or occupied a space or a period of time.

For teachers: to have occupied or pervaded a space, time, or role completely.

- The smell of fresh bread filled the entire house.
- The candidate filled the vacancy left by the previous director, bringing a wealth of experience in international trade law.

Usage: Used transitively to describe how a substance or person occupies a volume or position.

### 3. containing something inside

adjective · CEFR A2

describes something that has a substance or object inside it.

For teachers: a participial adjective describing a container or space that is currently occupied or holds a specific substance.

- She bought a chocolate-filled doughnut from the bakery.
- The report was filled with technical errors that undermined the credibility of the final conclusions.

Usage: Commonly used in compound adjectives like 'cream-filled' or 'action-filled'.

## Examples

- She filled the glass with cold water.
- The baker filled the donuts with sweet cream before placing them in the display case.
- As the morning sun rose, a warm golden light filled the valley, revealing the intricate patterns of the frost on the trees below.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.