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Filling vs. Filing — What's the Difference?

By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on May 27, 2024
Filling refers to a substance used to fill a space or cavity, while Filing is the process of arranging or storing documents.
Filling vs. Filing — What's the Difference?

Difference Between Filling and Filing

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Key Differences

Filling often denotes a substance, material, or content that occupies a space or cavity, providing volume or completeness. Conversely, Filing typically pertains to the action of sorting, categorizing, or storing documents, papers, or records in an organized manner.
In the culinary context, a Filling is an inner layer or stuffing, often found in pastries, sandwiches, or certain dishes. In contrast, Filing remains consistent in its definition, signifying the systematic arrangement of items, predominantly paperwork.
In dentistry, a Filling refers to the material used to restore the function and integrity of a tooth damaged by cavities. Filing, however, can be understood as the act of submitting a document or application, such as filing for a permit or license.
The word Filling can be employed in various contexts to represent the content or substance that provides volume, such as the filling of a cushion. On the other hand, Filing always retains a connotation of organization, as seen when filing taxes or paperwork.
Filling may also depict satisfaction or satiation, as in "The meal was filling." Whereas Filing might denote an action within legal or official domains, like filing a lawsuit or a patent.
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Comparison Chart

Primary Meaning

Substance or content occupying space
Process of arranging/storing documents

Contextual Variations

Culinary, dental, volume providing
Organizational, legal, official

Related to

Volume, content, material
Documents, records, applications

Used in Phrases Like

"Pie filling", "tooth filling"
"Filing taxes", "file away"

Associative Verbs

Fill, stuff, pack
File, arrange, categorize

Compare with Definitions

Filling

Something that satiates or satisfies.
That meal was very filling.

Filing

(Computers) A collection of data or program records stored as a unit with a single name.

Filling

The inner layer or content of something, especially in food.
The cherry filling in the pie was delicious.

Filing

A submitted document or application.
My tax filing was accepted without any issues.

Filling

A substance added to something else to provide volume.
The filling in the pillow is very soft.

Filing

A small particle rubbed off by a file.
Metal filings covered the workshop floor.

Filling

A dental material used to restore damaged teeth.
The dentist gave me a filling in my back molar.

Filing

Officially recording something with an authority.
She's filing a complaint against the company.

Filling

A quantity of soft material that fills or is used to fill something
Duvets with synthetic fillings

Filing

A small particle rubbed off by a file when smoothing or shaping something
Iron filings

Filling

(of food) leaving one with a pleasantly satiated feeling
The full English breakfast was delicious and also very filling

Filing

A container, such as a cabinet or folder, for keeping papers in order.

Filling

An act or instance of filling.

Filing

A collection of papers or published materials kept or arranged in convenient order.

Filling

Something used to fill a space, cavity, or container
A gold filling in a tooth.

Filing

A line of persons, animals, or things positioned one behind the other.

Filling

An edible mixture used to fill pastries, sandwiches, or cakes. See Note at frosting.

Filing

A line of troops or military vehicles so positioned.

Filling

The horizontal threads that cross the warp in weaving; weft.

Filing

(Games) Any of the rows of squares that run forward and backward between players on a playing board in chess or checkers.

Filling

Present participle of fill

Filing

(Archaic) A list or roll.

Filling

Of food, that satisfies the appetite by filling the stomach.
A filling meal

Filing

An official document that is filed with a court, government agency, or other legal or political institution.

Filling

Anything that is used to fill something.

Filing

Any of several hardened steel tools with cutting ridges for forming, smoothing, or reducing especially metallic surfaces.

Filling

The contents of a pie, etc.

Filing

A nail file.

Filling

(dentistry) Any material used to fill a cavity in a tooth or the result of using such material.
I will be using a rapid-setting cement filling.
My temporary filling fell out and got lost.

Filing

Chiefly British A crafty or artful person.

Filling

The woof in woven fabrics.

Filing

The act or an instance of using a file.

Filling

Prepared wort added to ale to cleanse it.

Filing

A particle or shaving removed by a file
Metal filings.

Filling

(Protestantism) A religious experience attributed to the Holy Ghost "filling" a believer.

Filing

To put or keep (papers, for example) in useful order for storage or reference.

Filling

That which is used to fill a cavity or any empty space, or to supply a deficiency; as, filling for a cavity in a tooth, a depression in a roadbed, the space between exterior and interior walls of masonry, the pores of open-grained wood, the space between the outer and inner planks of a vessel, etc.

Filing

To enter (a legal document) as an official record.

Filling

The woof in woven fabrics.

Filing

To send or submit (copy) to a newspaper.

Filling

Prepared wort added to ale to cleanse it.

Filing

To initiate (a lawsuit)
File a complaint.
File charges.

Filling

Any material that fills a space or container;
There was not enough fill for the trench

Filing

To march or walk in a line.

Filling

Flow into something (as a container)

Filing

To put items in a file.

Filling

(dentistry) a dental appliance consisting of any of various substances (as metal or plastic) inserted into a prepared cavity in a tooth;
When he yawned I could see the gold fillings in his teeth
An informal British term for `filling' is `stopping'

Filing

To make application; apply
Filed for a job with the state.
File for a divorce.

Filling

A food mixture used to fill pastry or sandwiches etc.

Filing

To enter one's name in a political contest
Filed for Congress.

Filling

The yarn woven across the warp yarn in weaving

Filing

To smooth, reduce, or remove with or as if with a file.

Filling

The act of filling something

Filing

To sully or defile.

Filling

The content or substance that completes something.
The filling of the bookshelf took hours.

Filing

Any particle that has been removed by a file or similar implement; a shaving.
The process left metal filings all over the bench and the part.

Filing

The act of storing documents in an archive; archiving.

Filing

Something that has been officially filed; a document on file.

Filing

Present participle of file

Filing

A fragment or particle rubbed off by the act of filing; as, iron filings.

Filing

The entering of a legal document into the public record;
He filed a complaint
He filed his tax return

Filing

A fragment rubbed off by the use of a file

Filing

The act of using a file (as in shaping or smoothing an object)

Filing

Preservation and methodical arrangement as of documents and papers etc.;
I have some filing to do

Filing

The action of arranging documents systematically.
The office manager is responsible for the filing of important paperwork.

Filing

The act of using a file on something.
Regular nail filing keeps them in good shape.

Common Curiosities

What might someone be referring to when discussing nail filing?

They're talking about using a file to shape or smooth the nails.

Does filling have a specific shape?

No, it conforms to the space or cavity it's meant to occupy.

Is the filling in a pie always edible?

Typically, yes. In a culinary context, a pie's filling is meant to be eaten.

Can "filling" refer to a sensation after eating?

Yes, if a meal is described as "filling," it means it's satiating.

How often should one consider filing important papers?

Regularly, to ensure they're organized and easy to find.

Can filing refer to something other than documents?

Yes, it can also mean particles produced by a file or the act of using a file.

Can a filling be temporary?

In dentistry, yes. Some fillings are temporary until a more permanent solution is applied.

What is the purpose of filing documents?

It helps in organizing, categorizing, and easily retrieving them when needed.

Does filling always refer to food?

No, filling can refer to any material that occupies space, such as in cushions or dental work.

What tools might one use for filing paperwork?

File folders, cabinets, labels, and document organizers.

Can filing be a legal action?

Yes, such as when filing a lawsuit or patent.

Does "filling" always denote fullness or completion?

Often, but not always. It denotes material occupying space, whether complete or not.

What materials can be used as filling in furniture?

Common materials include foam, feathers, polyester, and more.

Can "filling" and "filing" be used interchangeably?

No, they have distinct meanings and are not interchangeable.

Is digital filing considered "filing"?

Yes, organizing digital documents systematically is also considered filing.

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Author Spotlight

Written by
Tayyaba Rehman
Tayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.

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