fill out

British  

verb

1. to make or become fuller, thicker, or rounder

   her figure has filled out since her marriage

2. to make more substantial

   the writers were asked to fill their stories out

3. (tr) to complete (a form, application, etc)

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fill out Idioms  

1. Complete by supplying required information, especially in writing. For example, Please fill out the application form , or I don't quite understand this drawing, so fill out the details . [Late 1800s]

2. Become enlarged, distended, rounded in outline. For example, The wind filled out the sails , or He's put on weight and really filled out . Applied to objects, this expression dates from about 1700, but to persons or animals becoming fatter, only from the late 1800s.

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Example Sentences

While there, players may enjoy a well-stocked library, relax in a bespoke ceramics studio, or choose to fill out an Ivy League application.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 7, 2026

Allison Janney, “The Diplomat” “You could almost fill out this category completely with women from ‘The Pitt.’

From Los Angeles Times • May 21, 2026

Teradyne, Applied Materials, Texas Instruments, and Cadence Design Systems fill out the top five performers year-to-date.

From Barron's • May 8, 2026

Experts say that the amount of work it will take you to provide these companies with the information they need is the same as it would be to fill out the forms yourself.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 30, 2026

“You’ll have to fill out an application, and then you and your parents have to come in for an interview before you can adopt her.”

From "Keep It Together, Keiko Carter" by Debbi Michiko Florence

Related Words

• round out