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 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
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
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.
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Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Following an investigation by HSE inspectors, a file was passed to HSE's legal services division for review, which in accordance with the code for Crown prosecutors has authorised:
From BBC • Jul. 5, 2026
Most appeals to the emergency docket are the type of requests that were traditionally handled there: procedural requests, such as extending the time to file, and requests to stay execution for capital offenses.
From Salon • Jul. 3, 2026
Parents were able to file the paperwork to establish the account when they did their 2025 income taxes.
From MarketWatch • Jul. 2, 2026
The chip-smuggling scandal is only the latest setback for the server maker, which was nearly delisted from the Nasdaq last year after failing to file the required quarterly and annual reports with regulators on time.
From Barron's • Jun. 30, 2026
Cooper glared at Mother, who pretended to look through the file while his mind raced, trying to come up with an escape strategy.
From "City Spies" by James Ponti
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.
