fill in the blanks

Meaning

'Fill in the blanks' refers to an exercise or test format where words or phrases are missing from a text, and the student must supply the correct missing information. Figuratively, it can also mean to supply missing details or background information in a conversation.

Examples

• For the vocabulary section of the test, you need to fill in the blanks with the correct words.

  For the vocabulary section of the test, you need to fill in the blanks with the correct words.

• This worksheet has a short story where students have to fill in the blanks using past tense verbs.

  This worksheet has a short story where students have to fill in the blanks using past tense verbs.

• I couldn't remember the exact dates, so I had to fill in the blanks using my notes.

  I couldn't remember the exact dates, so I had to fill in the blanks using my notes.

• The teacher asked us to listen to the audio and fill in the blanks on our worksheets.

  The teacher asked us to listen to the audio and fill in the blanks on our worksheets.

• The report was incomplete, leaving the reader to fill in the blanks themselves.

  The report was incomplete, leaving the reader to fill in the blanks themselves.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ Please fill the blanks on page 5.

  ✓ Please fill in the blanks on page 5.

  The phrasal verb is 'fill in', not just 'fill', when referring to completing missing parts of a document.

• ✗ I need to fill up the blanks in this exercise.

  ✓ I need to fill in the blanks in this exercise.

  'Fill up' means to make something completely full (like a gas tank). For text exercises, always use 'fill in' or 'fill out'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• The English teacher gave us a lyric sheet with missing words and told us to ___ while listening.

  💡 To write the missing words in the spaces

  Show answer

  fill in the blanks

• You must ___ using the vocabulary words listed in the box at the top of the page.

  💡 To complete empty spaces in a text

  Show answer

  fill in the blanks