Cool MateFill vs Fill them up
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Fill
Top 1,000 (very common)A1verb
Fill them up
Top 2,000 (common)
Most common: Fill
| Fill | Fill them up | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/fɪl/","/fɪlz/","/fɪld/","/ˈfɪlɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/fɪl/","/fɪlz/","/fɪld/","/ˈfɪlɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //fɪl ðɛm ʌp//🇺🇸 //fɪl ðɛm ʌp// |
| Meaning | To make something full by putting something inside it. | Make something full, especially with a liquid. |
| Example | Please fill the glass with water. | Please fill them up with water before the party starts. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | A1 | - |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | fast, quickly, rapidly, begin to, seem to, with, be filled to capacity, be filled to the brim (with something) | fill them up with water, fill them up to the brim, fill them up completely |
| Antonyms | empty, drain, remove | - |
| Common mistakes | Confusing 'fill' with 'fulfill' in contexts of completion., Using 'filled' instead of 'fill' in present tense statements., Mixing up the order of words, like saying 'to fill it with water' instead of 'fill it with water'. | 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). |
| Usage notes | Use 'fill' when talking about putting substance into an empty space. It's common in both casual and formal contexts. Avoid using for emotional or abstract concepts, as it can lead to confusion. | Used for actions involving containers or spaces. Common in everyday conversation, less formal than 'fill to capacity'. |
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Frequently asked questions: Fill vs Fill them up
What's the difference between Fill and Fill them up?
Fill: To make something full by putting something inside it. Fill them up: Make something full, especially with a liquid.
Which is more common: Fill and Fill them up?
Fill is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Fill: Please fill the glass with water. Fill them up: Please fill them up with water before the party starts.
Can I use Fill and Fill them up interchangeably?
Not always. Fill and Fill them up 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.