Cool MateFill them up vs Stuff
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Fill them up
Top 2,000 (common)
Stuff
InformalTop 1,000 (very common)B1noun
Most formal: Fill them upMost common: Stuff
| Fill them up | Stuff | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //fɪl ðɛm ʌp//🇺🇸 //fɪl ðɛm ʌp// | 🇬🇧 /["/stʌf/"]/🇺🇸 /["/stʌf/"]/ |
| Meaning | Make something full, especially with a liquid. | Things or objects. |
| Example | Please fill them up with water before the party starts. | I need to pack all my stuff for the trip. |
| Register | Neutral | Informal |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | - | B1 |
| Part of speech | noun | |
| Collocations | fill them up with water, fill them up to the brim, fill them up completely | a bunch of stuff, some stuff, stuff to do |
| Antonyms | - | nothing, emptiness |
| Common mistakes | Omitting 'up' (e.g., saying 'fill them' instead of 'fill them up')., Using it with non-containers (e.g., 'fill them up' for ideas instead of physical objects). | Using 'stuff' as a singular noun., Confusing 'stuff' with more specific vocabulary., Overusing 'stuff' instead of being specific. |
| Usage notes | Used for actions involving containers or spaces. Common in everyday conversation, less formal than 'fill to capacity'. | Used in casual conversation to refer to things in general. Avoid in formal writing or speeches. |
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Frequently asked questions: Fill them up vs Stuff
What's the difference between Fill them up and Stuff?
Fill them up: Make something full, especially with a liquid. Stuff: Things or objects.
Which is more formal: Fill them up and Stuff?
Fill them up is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: Fill them up and Stuff?
Stuff is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Fill them up: Please fill them up with water before the party starts. Stuff: I need to pack all my stuff for the trip.
Can I use Fill them up and Stuff interchangeably?
Not always. Fill them up and Stuff are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.