fill the bill

fill  (fl)

v. filled, fill·ing, fills

v.tr.

1.

a. To put into (a container, for example) as much as can be held: fill a glass with milk.

b. To supply or provide to the fullest extent: filled the mall with new stores.

c. To build up the level of (low-lying land) with material such as earth or gravel.

d. To stop or plug up (an opening, for example).

e. To repair a cavity of (a tooth).

f. To add a foreign substance to (cloth or wood, for example).

2.

a. To satiate, as with food and drink.

b. To satisfy or meet; fulfill: fill the requirements. See Synonyms at satisfy.

c. To complete (something) by insertion or addition: fill in the blanks.

d. To supply with material, such as writing, an inscription, or an illustration: filled the blank spaces on the page with notes.

3. To supply as required: fill a prescription; fill an order.

4.

a. To place a person in: fill a job vacancy.

b. To possess and discharge the duties of; hold: fill a post.

5.

a. To occupy the whole of; pervade: Music filled the room.

b. To spread throughout: Fear filled the city.

c. To engage or occupy completely; make full: filled the child's mind with strange ideas; a story that filled our hearts with joy.

6. To cover the surface of (an inexpensive metal) with a layer of precious metal, such as gold.

7. Nautical

a. To cause (a sail) to swell.

b. To adjust (a yard) so that wind will cause a sail to swell.

v.intr.

To become full.

n.

1. An amount needed to make full, complete, or satisfied: eat one's fill.

2. Material for filling a container, cavity, or passage.

3.

a. A built-up piece of land; an embankment.

b. The material, such as earth or gravel, used for this.

Phrasal Verbs:

fill in

1. Informal To provide with information that is essential or newly acquired: I wasn't therewould you fill me in?

2. To act as a substitute; stand in: an understudy who filled in at the last minute.

fill out

1. To complete (a form, for example) by providing required information: carefully filled out the job application.

2. To become or make more fleshy: He filled out after age 35.

Idioms:

fill (someone's) shoes

To assume someone's position or duties.

fill the bill Informal

To serve a particular purpose.

---

[Middle English fillen, from Old English fyllan; see pel-¹ in Indo-European roots.]

---

filla·ble adj.

Thesaurus

Verb

1.

fill the bill - be what is needed or be good enough for what is required; "Does this restaurant fit the bill for the celebration?" fit the bill conform to, fit, meet - satisfy a condition or restriction; "Does this paper meet the requirements for the degree?"