Fill out meaning
Fill out means to write all the information a form or document asks for. It can also mean to become a little bigger or rounder in the body.
fill something out
fill out · filled · filling
You need to fill out a form at the front desk.
Fill out meanings and examples
2 meanings, each with its own CEFR level. A level marked ~ is our estimate: Oxford and Cambridge give none for that meaning.
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1
Write all the information a form or document asks for
fill something out
- You need to fill out a form at the front desk.
- I got the survey by email and filled it out on my phone.
- Have you filled out your visa application yet?
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2
Become a little bigger or rounder in the body
fill out
- He was skinny at school but filled out at college.
- The puppy has filled out a lot this year.
- Her face has filled out since she started eating better.
Café orders
New friends
At the airport
Slova
Use fill out in real conversations
- Learn new words with picture cards
- Talk with Felix, an AI tutor, about the things you love
- Short lessons at your level, a few minutes a day
Is fill out separable?
Fill out is separable: fill out the form or fill the form out. With a pronoun, it goes in the middle: fill it out.
Fill out is mainly American for forms. In the UK, fill in is more common. On official papers you may also see complete.
Verb tenses for fill out
| Present | I fill out · she fills out |
|---|---|
| Past | filled out |
| Present perfect | have filled out |
| -ing form | filling out |
Common mistakes with fill out
What learners often say, and what to say instead.
Wrong: Take this form and fill out it.
Right: Take this form and fill it out.
A pronoun goes between fill and out.
Wrong: I filled up the application yesterday.
Right: I filled out the application yesterday.
Fill up means make a container full, not complete a form.
Wrong: Please fill out with your name and address.
Right: Please fill out the form with your name and address.
Fill out needs the form as its object.
Synonyms and opposites of fill out
Words close to it, and words that mean the opposite.
Similar
- fill inthe same for forms, more common in UK English
- completethe formal word used on official forms
- signwrite your name, usually at the end of a form
Opposite
- leave blanknot write anything in a space
- slim downbecome thinner
Fill out quiz
Three quick questions. Pick an answer to see if it is right and why.
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1At the doctor’s, I had to ___ a long health form.
Fill out a form means complete it.
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2Choose the right sentence.
The pronoun goes in the middle: filled it out.
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3“My son has really filled out this year.” What does it mean?
Fill out can mean become bigger or rounder in the body.
More phrasal verbs with fill
2 phrasal verbs start with fill. Test yourself on all of them in a few minutes.
Fill out FAQ
Questions people ask about fill out.
What is the difference between fill out and fill in?
For forms there is no difference in meaning. Fill out is more common in US English and fill in in UK English.
Is fill up a form correct?
No. Fill up is for containers: fill up the tank. For forms, say fill in or fill out.
Can you fill out a person?
No, but a person can fill out, meaning their body gets fuller: He’s filled out since he started at the gym.
Use fill out in real conversations
In Slova you learn new words with picture cards, then use them when you talk about the things you love. A few minutes a day, at your level.