fill out
write the needed information on a form
What does "fill sth out" mean?
Examples
- Please fill out the registration form before your appointment.
- I filled the application out and sent it yesterday.
- Have you filled out the feedback survey yet?
How to use it
The most common structure — use it when the document object is a noun phrase like 'the form' or 'an application'.
You need to fill out an application form to join the program.
When you replace the document with a pronoun like 'it' or 'them', the pronoun must go between 'fill' and 'out'.
The receptionist gave me the consent form and asked me to fill it out.
With short noun phrases, you can also place the object between 'fill' and 'out' — both orders are natural.
She filled the questionnaire out and handed it to the nurse.
The passive is common in official instructions when the focus is on the document rather than the person completing it.
All sections of the form must be filled out before you submit it.
Adverbs like 'completely', 'correctly', and 'accurately' are often added to emphasise how the form should be completed.
Please fill out the registration form completely or your application may be delayed.
Common Collocations
Common Mistakes
When you use a pronoun like 'it' or 'them' as the object, it must go between 'fill' and 'out'. Placing the pronoun after 'out' is incorrect.
'Fill in' is the British English equivalent for completing forms, and the two are interchangeable in that sense. However, 'fill in' can also mean to substitute for someone (e.g., 'Can you fill in for me today?'), while 'fill out' cannot — so they are not always the same.
In this sense, 'fill out' always needs a document as its object (a form, application, survey, etc.). Without one, the meaning changes completely to a different, unrelated sense.
Usage
'Fill out' is mainly American English; British speakers often say 'fill in' instead, but both are widely understood. It fits any register, from casual conversation to formal instructions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'fill out' American English? Do British people say it too?
'Fill out' is mainly used in American English. British speakers more commonly say 'fill in' when talking about completing forms. That said, 'fill out' is widely understood in British English, and you'll see it used internationally — so either choice is fine in most situations.
What kinds of things can you 'fill out'?
The object is always a document designed to collect information. Common examples include forms, applications, questionnaires, surveys, tax returns, and registration or consent forms. You wouldn't use 'fill out' with a container or a general document like a report.
Can 'fill out' be used for online forms, or only paper ones?
It works for both. You can fill out a paper form at a clinic or fill out an online form on a website — the phrasal verb is the same in both cases. For example: 'You can fill out the application form on our website.'
Does 'fill out' always mean completing a form? I've seen it used differently.
'Fill out' has a second, completely separate meaning where it describes someone becoming physically fuller or rounder — for example, 'He filled out after he started exercising.' This sense has no object and refers to physical change, not paperwork. The two meanings are easy to tell apart because the form-completing sense always has a document as its object.
Can I add words like 'completely' or 'correctly' when using 'fill out'?
Yes — adverbs like 'completely', 'correctly', and 'accurately' are very natural with this phrasal verb. They usually come after the object: 'Please fill out the form completely.' This is especially common in official instructions.
Related Phrasal Verbs
Ready to practise?
Practise 1,000+ English phrasal verbs with interactive gap-fill exercises.
Start Practising →