Cool MateFill vs Fill them up vs Load vs Pack vs Stuff
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)
Load
Top 1,000 (very common)B2noun
Pack
Top 1,000 (very common)A2verb
Stuff
InformalTop 1,000 (very common)B1noun
| Fill | Fill them up | Load | Pack | Stuff | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/fɪl/","/fɪlz/","/fɪld/","/ˈfɪlɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/fɪl/","/fɪlz/","/fɪld/","/ˈfɪlɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //fɪl ðɛm ʌp//🇺🇸 //fɪl ðɛm ʌp// | 🇬🇧 /["/ləʊd/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ləʊd/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/pæk/","/pæks/","/pækt/","/ˈpækɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/pæk/","/pæks/","/pækt/","/ˈpækɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/stʌf/"]/🇺🇸 /["/stʌf/"]/ |
| Meaning | To make something full by putting something inside it. | Make something full, especially with a liquid. | To put something heavy onto something, like a truck. | To put things into a bag or container. | Things or objects. |
| Example | Please fill the glass with water. | Please fill them up with water before the party starts. | The truck can carry a heavy load of equipment for the construction site. | I need to pack my clothes for the trip. | I need to pack all my stuff for the trip. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Informal |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | A1 | - | B2 | A2 | B1 |
| Part of speech | verb | noun | verb | noun | |
| 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 | heavy, light, full, bear, carry, shoulder, under its, etc. load, heavy, light, full, bear, carry, shoulder, under its, etc. load, heavy, light, full, bear, carry, shoulder, under its, etc. load | carefully, neatly, tightly, in, into, carefully, neatly, tightly, in, into, into, be packed full of something, be packed out, be packed to bursting | a bunch of stuff, some stuff, stuff to do |
| Antonyms | empty, drain, remove | - | unload, empty | unpack, scatter, disorganize | nothing, emptiness |
| 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). | 'Loaded' confused with 'load' when speaking., 'Load' used without an object (e.g., 'I will load' instead of 'I will load the truck')., 'Load' misused in non-physical contexts, like emotions. | 'Packed' vs 'pack' confusion with verb tense., Using 'pack' without an object when it should include one., Confusing 'pack' with 'package'. | Using 'stuff' as a singular noun., Confusing 'stuff' with more specific vocabulary., Overusing 'stuff' instead of being specific. |
| 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'. | Use 'load' when referring to putting items on vehicles or carrying heavy things. Avoid in very formal writing; instead, use 'cargo' or 'shipment'. | Used in both casual and formal contexts. It's common to use 'pack' when referring to preparing travel bags or organizing items for moving. Avoid using in overly formal or academic contexts. | Used in casual conversation to refer to things in general. Avoid in formal writing or speeches. |
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Frequently asked questions: Fill vs Fill them up vs Load vs Pack vs Stuff
What's the difference between Fill, Fill them up, Load, Pack, and Stuff?
Fill: To make something full by putting something inside it. Fill them up: Make something full, especially with a liquid. Load: To put something heavy onto something, like a truck. Pack: To put things into a bag or container. Stuff: Things or objects.
Which is more advanced: Fill, Fill them up, Load, Pack, and Stuff?
Load is the highest level, at B2, on the CEFR scale.
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. Load: The truck can carry a heavy load of equipment for the construction site. Pack: I need to pack my clothes for the trip. Stuff: I need to pack all my stuff for the trip.
Can I use Fill, Fill them up, Load, Pack, and Stuff interchangeably?
Not always. Fill, Fill them up, Load, Pack, 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.