filling

filling — noun

1. soft material that is put inside an object — such as a cushion, pillow, toy, or

1.nounB1
Definition

soft material that is put inside an object — such as a cushion, pillow, toy, or coat — to give it shape, support, or warmth.

Example

The cushion's filling is made of soft polyester fibres that hold their shape well.

collocation: cushion filling + material type

Noa replaced the old cotton filling inside her winter coat after it went flat.

Common collocations
  • cushion filling
  • pillow filling
  • down filling
  • cotton filling
  • foam filling
  • polyester filling
Synonyms
  • stuffing

    used for soft toys, pillows, and cushions; 'stuffing' often implies material pushed tightly into a space

  • padding

    thin protective material (in clothing, furniture); 'padding' is usually a layer rather than a full inner mass

  • filler

    broader term; can refer to any substance added to fill gaps, including in construction, cosmetics, or writing

Grammar Patterns

filling + of + material

Usage Note

Often combined with a material name — 'down filling', 'cotton filling', 'foam filling' — to specify the type of filler used.

Common Mistakes

The pillow's filler has gone flat.
The pillow's filling has gone flat.
'filler' usually refers to a substance added to improve or extend another material; 'filling' is the material already inside.
I need filling for my coat from the tailor.
I need new filling for my coat.
'filling' is uncountable here; don't use 'a filling' unless referring to a dental filling.

2. a mixture of food placed between slices of bread, inside a pastry, between layer

2.nounA2
Definition

a mixture of food placed between slices of bread, inside a pastry, between layers of cake, or inside other dishes to add flavour and texture.

Example

Quan ordered a sandwich with tuna and sweetcorn filling for lunch.

collocation: sandwich filling

The pie had a warm apple and cinnamon filling that smelled delicious.

Common collocations
  • sandwich filling
  • pie filling
  • cake filling
  • chocolate filling
  • cream filling
  • savoury filling
  • sweet filling
Synonyms
  • stuffing

    specifically savoury mixture put inside poultry, vegetables, or dumplings before cooking; 'stuffing' is always cooked inside, while 'filling' can be added after

  • topping

    placed on top of a dish, not inside; 'topping' sits on the surface

Grammar Patterns

filling + for/in + dish

Usage Note

Can be countable ('three different fillings') or uncountable ('This cake has too much filling'). Common in compound nouns: 'pie filling', 'sandwich filling', 'dumpling filling'.

Common Mistakes

The topping of this pie is apple.
The filling of this pie is apple.
'topping' goes on top; 'filling' goes inside.

3. a hard substance that a dentist places into a decayed part of a tooth to repair

3.nounB1
Definition

a hard substance that a dentist places into a decayed part of a tooth to repair the damage and stop the cavity from getting worse.

Example

Élise went to the dentist to get a new filling in her back molar.

pattern: get a filling

The dentist said the old filling in Christopher's tooth had cracked and needed replacing.

Common collocations
  • have a filling
  • get a filling
  • need a filling
  • silver filling
  • white filling
  • temporary filling
  • permanent filling
Synonyms
  • dental filling

    the full name; adds clarity in formal or clinical contexts

  • crown

    a cap that covers the whole tooth; a filling only fills a cavity

Grammar Patterns

have/get + a + filling

Usage Note

Frequently passive: 'got a filling', 'had a filling put in'. The phrase 'a filling' in conversation almost always refers to a dental filling unless context makes another meaning clear.

Common Mistakes

I need to fill my tooth at the dentist.
I need a filling at the dentist.
'fill a tooth' is not wrong, but 'get a filling' is the natural expression.
My filling fell.
My filling fell out.
requires the particle 'out' to describe the filling becoming loose.

filling — adjective

Word family

  • fill
    verbA2
  • fill
    nounB1
  • refill
    verbB1
  • refill
    nounB1
  • filler
    nounB2
  • filled
    adjectiveA2
  • unfilled
    adjectiveC1
  • overflowing
    adjectiveB2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/2

All three words refer to food added to a dish, but they differ in placement and preparation. Filling is the broadest term: any mixture placed inside bread, pastry, cake, or dumplings (e.g. 'a cheese and onion filling'). Stuffing is a savoury mixture — typically bread, herbs, and vegetables — that is cooked inside poultry, vegetables, or dumplings; it is always cooked together with the outer food ('turkey with sage stuffing'). Topping sits on the surface rather than inside: grated cheese on pasta, sprinkles on a doughnut, or nuts on a cake ('a pizza with mushroom topping'). A useful test: if the ingredient is enclosed by the outer food, it is a filling; if it rests on top, it is a topping; if it is baked or roasted inside poultry, it is stuffing.

filling ↗stuffingtopping ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • sandwich filling
  • pie filling
  • cake filling
  • pillow filling
  • dental filling

Prepositions

  • filling + for
  • filling + in
  • filling + of

Etymology

Proto-GermanicOld EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

The noun and adjective 'filling' come from the verb 'fill', which traces back to Old English 'fyllan' (to make full). The '-ing' suffix turns the verb into a noun (the material used to fill something) or an adjective (describing something that fills the stomach). The dental sense appeared in the mid-1800s as dentistry developed. The related word 'fill' comes from Proto-Germanic '*fullijaną', from the same ancient root as 'full'.