fill up

USAGE SUMMARY

"fill up" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to mean "fill completely," as in "Alice filled up the bathtub with warm water," or you can use it to mean "refill," as in "I need to fill up my car with gas."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

They fill up rooms".

The New York Times

Classes fill up.

The New York Times

Schools fill up.

The New York Times

The lanes fill up.

The New Yorker

Just fill up.

The Economist

Spots fill up quickly!

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

"She would fill up.

The New York Times

They fill up pretty quickly".

The New York Times

Tables can fill up quickly.

The New York Times

To fill up a Charlière?

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

I fill up my box.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "fill up" when you want to convey the idea of making something completely full, whether it's a container, a space, or even an emotional state. For example, "Fill up the gas tank before the long drive."

Common error

While "fill up" is generally acceptable, avoid overusing it in formal writing where a more precise term like "replenish" or "complete" might be more appropriate. For instance, instead of saying "Fill up the report with data", consider "Complete the report with data."

Linguistic Context

The phrasal verb "fill up" primarily functions as a transitive verb, indicating the action of making something full. It can also function intransitively, meaning to become full, as seen in examples provided by Ludwig. The examples clarify its usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Wiki

33%

Academia

12%

Less common in

Science

10%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrasal verb "fill up" is a common and versatile expression used to describe the act of making something full, either completely or to its maximum capacity. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability in various contexts, from refueling a vehicle to completing a document. While generally neutral in register, it’s important to consider more formal alternatives like "replenish" or "complete" in certain professional settings. As evidenced by the numerous examples found across news media, academic sources, and wikis, "fill up" remains a widely understood and accepted phrase in contemporary English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

top off

Implies adding just enough to reach the maximum level.

replenish

Focuses on restoring something that was previously depleted.

load up

Suggests filling something with a large quantity of items.

stock up

Emphasizes accumulating a supply of something for future use.

pack

Focuses on fitting items tightly into a container.

crowd

Signifies filling a space with a large number of people.

saturate

Suggests filling something to the point where it can't absorb any more.

gorge

Refers to eating until completely full.

complete

Emphasizes the action of making something whole or finished.

occupy

Focuses on taking up space or time.

FAQs

How is "fill up" used in a sentence?

You can use "fill up" to describe making something full, like "Fill up the glass with water", or to indicate refilling something, such as "I need to fill up my car with gas".

What are some synonyms for "fill up"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "replenish", "top off", or "load up" to convey a similar meaning to "fill up".

Is it correct to say "fill up" instead of "fill"?

While "fill" can be used to mean making something full, "fill up" often implies filling something completely or to its maximum capacity. The choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

What's the difference between "fill up" and "top off"?

"Fill up" generally means to make something completely full, while "top off" suggests adding just enough to reach the maximum level, implying it was already mostly full.