fill-in
[ fil-in ]
/ ˈfɪlˌɪn /
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noun
a person or thing that fills in, as a substitute, replacement, or insertion: The company used a fill-in for workers on vacation.
a brief, informative summary; a rundown.
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Origin of fill-in
First recorded in 1915–20; noun use of verb phrase fill in
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022
How to use fill-in in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for fill-in
fill in
verb (adverb)
noun fill-in
a substitute
US informal a briefing to complete one's understanding
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with fill-in
fill in
Complete something, especially by supplying more information or detail. For example, Be sure to fill in your salary history. It is also put as fill in the blanks, as in We'll rely on Mary to fill in the blanks. Yet another related usage is fill someone in, as in I couldn't attend, so will you fill me in? The first term dates from the mid-1800s; the others from the first half of the 1900s. Also see fill out.
Also, fill in for. Take someone's place, substitute for. For example, The understudy had to fill in at the last minute, or I can't come but my wife will fill in for me. Also see fill someone's shoes.
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.