filling
5 synonyms and 0 antonyms for filling, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — The material used to fill a cavity in a tooth, or the substance itself.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use filling
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Frequently asked questions
What does “filling” mean?
The word “filling” means the material used to fill a cavity in a tooth, or the substance itself. In plain terms, what goes inside something (a tooth, pie, or sandwich) — or, as an adjective, food that leaves you satisfyingly full.
How do you pronounce “filling”?
“Filling” is pronounced FIH-lihng ([ˈfɪɫɪŋ] in IPA).
How do you use “filling” in a sentence?
Here is “filling” used in a sentence: “The dentist gave her a filling after finding a small cavity.”
What part of speech is “filling”?
Depending on how it is used, “filling” can be a noun and an adjective.
Is “filling” a common word?
“Filling” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “filling” have?
“Filling” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the material used to fill a cavity in a tooth, or the substance itself.
What is the difference between a "filling" and "stuffing"?
In cooking, "filling" and "stuffing" both refer to a mixture placed inside food, and the words often overlap. "Filling" is the general term for the contents inside a pie, sandwich, cake, or pastry, while "stuffing" usually refers specifically to a seasoned mixture packed inside meat or poultry.
What is the difference between a "filling" and a "cavity"?
In dentistry, a cavity is the hole or area of decay in a tooth, while a filling is the material used to repair it. The dentist removes the decay to create space, then places a filling to restore the tooth's shape and function.
Is "filling" countable?
It depends on the meaning. When it refers to a tooth repair, "filling" is countable, as in "I need three fillings." When it refers to the contents of food, it is often used uncountably, as in "there was too much filling," though you can also say "a sweet filling."