a folder, cabinet, or other container in which papers, letters, etc., are arranged in convenient order for storage or reference.
a collection of papers, records, etc., arranged in convenient order.
to make a file for a new account.
Computers. a collection of related data or program records stored on some input/output or auxiliary storage medium.
This program's main purpose is to update the customer master file.
a line of persons or things arranged one behind another (distinguished from rank).
Military.
a person in front of or behind another in a military formation.
one step on a promotion list.
one of the vertical lines of squares on a chessboard.
a list or roll.
a string or wire on which papers are strung for preservation and reference.
to place in a file.
to arrange (papers, records, etc.) in convenient order for storage or reference.
Journalism.
to arrange (copy) in the proper order for transmittal by wire.
to transmit (copy), as by wire or telephone.
He filed copy from Madrid all through the war.
to march in a file or line, one after another, as soldiers.
The parade filed past endlessly.
to make application.
to file for a civil-service job.
a long, narrow tool of steel or other metal having a series of ridges or points on its surfaces for reducing or smoothing surfaces of metal, wood, etc.
a small, similar tool for trimming and cleaning fingernails; nail file.
British Slang. a cunning, shrewd, or artful person.
a hand tool consisting essentially of a steel blade with small cutting teeth on some or all of its faces. It is used for shaping or smoothing metal, wood, etc
rare a cunning or deceitful person
a folder, box, etc, used to keep documents or other items in order
the documents, etc, kept in this way
documents or information about a specific subject, person, etc
we have a file on every known thief
an orderly line or row
a line of people in marching formation, one behind another Compare rank 1
any of the eight vertical rows of squares on a chessboard
computing a named collection of information, in the form of text, programs, graphics, etc, held on a permanent storage device such as a magnetic disk
obsolete a list or catalogue
a group of problems or responsibilities, esp in government, associated with a particular topic
the environment file
recorded or catalogued for reference, as in a file
to place (a document, letter, etc) in a file
(tr) to put on record, esp to place (a legal document) on public or official record; register
(tr) to bring (a suit, esp a divorce suit) in a court of law
(tr) to submit (copy) to a newspaper or news agency
(intr) to march or walk in a file or files
the ants filed down the hill
First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English verb filen, from Middle French filer “to string documents on a thread or wire,” Old French: “to wind or spin thread,” from Vulgar Latin fīlāre “to wind or spin thread,” from the Latin noun fīlum “a string, thread”; the English noun is derived from the verb
First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English fīl, fēol; cognate with German Feile; akin to Slavic (Polish) piła “saw”
First recorded before 1000; Middle English, Old English fȳlan “to befoul, defile,” derivative of fūl foul
1800–10, < Louisiana French; literally, twisted, ropy, stringy (perhaps originally applied to dishes thickened with the powder), past participle of French filer; see file 1
To file is to submit an application or a record to some official authority, like a court, police station, or city hall. You might file a complaint against your neighbor after he shovels the snow from his driveway into yours. People file for divorce, file for bankruptcy, and file charges against criminals. You can also file a receipt or a record at home, by putting it in a file folder and then sliding the folder into a file cabinet. When you stand "single file," you're in a line or queue, and if the group moves a few steps, you can say it files forward.
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Officials are going door to door to tell residents how they can file claims with Los Angeles Department of Water and Power to pay for water damage.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 18, 2026
If a settlement cannot be reached, the district can file a civil lawsuit in L.A.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 17, 2026
You could also file a small‑estate affidavit or summary probate, which is often less expensive and faster than the full probate process.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 15, 2026
Boehringer Ingelheim is gearing up to file for U.S. approval of survodutide, its new obesity medicine.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 15, 2026
After she led him inside, he filled a bowl with warm water and dish soap, and after she’d retrieved her nail file and polish, he’d instructed her to put her hands into the water.
From "Not Nothing" by Gayle Forman
Bailey's recipe calls for brandy and gumbo filé, which infuse the dish with a singular flavor.
From Salon ● Apr. 12, 2021
Sprinkle with the parsley or scallions, if using, and serve with hot sauce and filé powder, if desired.
From Washington Post ● Jan. 9, 2021
Plentiful throughout the Gulf Coast, crawfish and shrimp are Choctaw staples and traditional seasonings like filé, the spice ground from dried sassafras bark, and spicy chiles are a perfect accompaniment.
From New York Times ● Nov. 4, 2019
Dressed in baggy jeans and a sweatshirt, Guy was hunched over the gumbo, adding just the right measure of hot sauce and, at the end, Tony Chachere’s Famous Creole Cuisine gumbo filé.
From The New Yorker ● Mar. 4, 2019
Remove the vessel from the fire, and before pouring into the tureen, sprinkle in two tablespoonfuls of filé.
From Favorite Dishes : a Columbian Autograph Souvenir Cookery Book by Shuman, Carrie V.
The Cashes never responded to the foreclosure complaint filed against them, according to court records.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 20, 2026
Gen. Rob Bonta filed suit against the genetic testing company formerly known as 23andMe for failing to protect its customers’ data.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 20, 2026
Their bank filed a foreclosure complaint the following August.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 20, 2026
A lawyer who represents the Tates, Joseph McBride, described the new charges as "filth and slander" brought to counter defamation charges filed by the brothers in the US.
From BBC ● Jul. 19, 2026
Nothing, not even Freddy and Teddy moaning and groaning as they filed off the bus, could put a damper on today.
From "The Way to Rio Luna" by Zoraida Cordova
An antitrust filing can erase a decade of shareholder value in an afternoon.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 20, 2026
We do so through many avenues: voting, protest, political party activism, lobbying, filing lawsuits, and writing op-eds, to name a few.
From Slate ● Jul. 20, 2026
Prior to filing these five cases in the cities’ respective county courts, the California attorney general’s office on behalf of the Department of Housing and Community Development had also filed four other legal complaints.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 18, 2026
Paxton moved out of the Collin County home in June 2024 and has not returned, according to a divorce filing by his wife and a source close to the Paxton family.
From Salon ● Jul. 18, 2026
His good-looking plump wife sat filing her fingernails at the other end of the counter.
From "The Heart is a Lonely Hunter" by Carson McCullers
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
