1
as in informing
to give information to
my friend quickly filled me in on the portion of the movie that I had missed
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in standing in
to serve as a replacement usually for a time only
she's only filling in while the regular secretary is on vacation
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of filling in
When a small job of filling in a hole that a pet has dug or where a root has rotted, homeowners can easily handle this type of job themselves.
—
Rebecca Jones, Southern Living, 11 Sep. 2025
Kelley said the school’s full-time deputy is on medical leave, and multiple part-time officers are filling in the gap.
—Shelly Bradbury, Denver Post, 11 Sep. 2025
The Steelers wouldn’t have even been in position for that last touchdown pass if not for a brutal error by Xavier Gipson, filling in at kick returner after Kene Nwangwu left with an injury.
—Zack Rosenblatt, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025
In 2011, the adjustment was mostly about filling in gaps left by missing coworkers.
—Dr. Diane Hamilton, Forbes.com, 7 Sep. 2025
To make the apple filling in a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat.
—Katlyn Moncada, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Sep. 2025
The company is planning to open 15 to 20 new stores over the next few years under new parent company Hoffmann Oberweis Dairy, filling in additional locations in the Chicago market while expanding its retail footprint into Wisconsin and Florida.
—Robert Channick, Chicago Tribune, 20 Aug. 2025
For this week’s Open Questions column, Cal Newport is filling in for Joshua Rothman.
—Cal Newport, New Yorker, 12 Aug. 2025
This past year, Iowa made an AI-powered reading tutor available to all state elementary schools; elsewhere, chatbots are filling in for school-counselor shortages.
—Lila Shroff, The Atlantic, 12 Aug. 2025
Rebecca Jones, Southern Living, 11 Sep. 2025
Kelley said the school’s full-time deputy is on medical leave, and multiple part-time officers are filling in the gap.
—Shelly Bradbury, Denver Post, 11 Sep. 2025
The Steelers wouldn’t have even been in position for that last touchdown pass if not for a brutal error by Xavier Gipson, filling in at kick returner after Kene Nwangwu left with an injury.
—Zack Rosenblatt, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025
In 2011, the adjustment was mostly about filling in gaps left by missing coworkers.
—Dr. Diane Hamilton, Forbes.com, 7 Sep. 2025
To make the apple filling in a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat.
—Katlyn Moncada, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Sep. 2025
The company is planning to open 15 to 20 new stores over the next few years under new parent company Hoffmann Oberweis Dairy, filling in additional locations in the Chicago market while expanding its retail footprint into Wisconsin and Florida.
—Robert Channick, Chicago Tribune, 20 Aug. 2025
For this week’s Open Questions column, Cal Newport is filling in for Joshua Rothman.
—Cal Newport, New Yorker, 12 Aug. 2025
This past year, Iowa made an AI-powered reading tutor available to all state elementary schools; elsewhere, chatbots are filling in for school-counselor shortages.
—Lila Shroff, The Atlantic, 12 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for filling in
Verb
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At the intersection of truth, trust, and transparency is the journalist, the storyteller tasked with informing the public, holding power to account, and navigating a world in which fact is sometimes intermingled with fiction.—
Rodger Dean Duncan,
Forbes.com,
18 Sep. 2025
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The revelation came after host Sean Evans fact-checked whether or not the older kids on set had pranked Bateman by informing him that his character would die.—
Jessica Wang,
Entertainment Weekly,
18 Sep. 2025
Verb
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That June, Kraus posted an old photo of Kennedy standing in front of his family’s Cape Cod compound, holding an owl.—
Clare Malone,
New Yorker,
15 Sep. 2025
-
Visitors are surprised at first seeing even one sculpture appear out of nowhere standing in the river.—
Jeanine Barone,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Don't believe what your eyes are telling you because the media is lying to you.—
Andrew Stanton,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 Sep. 2025
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Others include cognitive empathy (accurately understanding a patient’s situation); communication skills (asking about patients’ lives and telling them our interpretations); and altruism (mobilizing these understandings for the patient’s benefit).—
Rachel Pearson,
Harpers Magazine,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
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As the dish spread, variations began to pop up with some cooks substituting different kinds of beef, adding carrots for extra sweetness, or adapting it to a soup, like this recipe.—
Melinda Salchert,
Southern Living,
12 Sep. 2025
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Taking the question further, and assuming the Fed capable of the magic that Democrats, Republicans and even libertarians ascribe to it, won’t private capital retreat overcome the Fed substituting itself for the marketplace in the first place?—
John Tamny,
Forbes.com,
7 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The bank is advising its clients to take that change seriously, Sarah Kapnick, its global head of climate advisory, told Semafor.—
Tim McDonnell,
semafor.com,
16 Sep. 2025
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One woman, who identified herself only as Alice, questioned why the county wasn’t advising individuals living here illegally to self-deport.—
Grace Hase,
Mercury News,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
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With New Mexico’s cannabis market at a crossroads, a new association is stepping in to rally businesses, push reforms, and help guide the industry’s future.—
Benjamin Adams,
Forbes.com,
29 Aug. 2025
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But others did not blame the mother alone, instead criticizing the husband and even the child's aunt and grandparents for not stepping in.—
Deirdre Bardolf,
FOXNews.com,
5 Aug. 2025
Verb
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When that happens, catching up will be far harder—and far more expensive—than acting now.—
Alex Brueckmann,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Kehlani is pushing back against artificial intelligence taking over music after Xania Monet, a virtual artist, inked a $3,000,000 deal with Hallwood Media and already landed spots on the Billboard charts.—
Amber Corrine,
VIBE.com,
19 Sep. 2025
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Erika Kirk has been named CEO of Turning Point USA, taking over the organization that her husband, Charlie Kirk, helped found and led until his assassination last week.—
Alexandra Banner,
CNN Money,
19 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Filling in.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/filling%20in. Accessed 20 Sep. 2025.
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