file 1 of 3

verb (1)

Definition of filenext
as in to rub
to make smooth by friction beautifully filed nails that obviously had been done by a manicurist

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

file

2 of 3

verb (2)

as in to march
to move along with a steady regular step especially in a group to the strains of that familiar music, this year's graduating class filed into the auditorium

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

file

3 of 3

noun

as in queue
a series of persons or things arranged one behind another a long file of people waiting to get tickets to the game

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of file
Verb
That incident prompted a lawsuit filed against OpenAI by the Legal Advocates for Safe Science & Technology (LASST), a nonprofit artificial intelligence safety group. — ABC News, 12 Oct. 2026 In South Dakota, the ACLU has filed a lawsuit seeking to halt a new law that includes requiring voters registering for the first time to present the most common forms of ID — driver’s licenses, Tribal IDs and non-driver state IDs. — Gary Fields, Los Angeles Times, 12 Oct. 2026
Noun
Over the course of more than four decades in the industry, he’s taken on the transition from cassettes into the CD era, rampant piracy in the Napster and file-sharing era, and the streaming revolution with Spotify. — Ethan Millman, HollywoodReporter, 8 Oct. 2026 This year, voters identified as Democrats on the voter file were less likely to be contacted successfully for the poll than Republicans, regardless of whether they were contacted by a text message or live phone interviewer. — Scott Clement, Washington Post, 8 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for file
Recent Examples of Synonyms for file
  1. rub
  2. march
  3. queue
  4. sand
  5. stride
  6. line
  7. polish
  8. column
Verb
  • Some of these practices have been reported on before, such as rubbing deodorant against colored pages from magazines to make eye shadow.
    — Elizabeth Gulino, Allure, 8 Oct. 2026
  • The story takes place around the Club Rumba Royale, where white Europeans and Congolese citizens rub shoulders, and where the captivating melodies of rumba merge with aspirations and fiery debates of independence.
    — Diana Lodderhose, Deadline, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of rub
Verb
  • Thousands of people marched through central Brussels in a protest that was largely peaceful, although some scuffles broke out with police, who used tear gas and water cannons in some instances.
    — Makini Brice, Arkansas Online, 10 Oct. 2026
  • On the ensuing drive, Pitt marched down the field, as running back La'Vell Wright capped a seven-play, 75-yard drive that lasted 2 1/2 minutes with a 1-yard touchdown run, putting Pitt back ahead 17-14.
    — Ryan Canfield OutKick, FOXNews.com, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of march
Noun
  • With queues that wrap around the block, fans of Kim Kardashian can also visit Lane Crawford’s NikeSkims corner for a more breezy shopping experience.
    — Denni Hu, Footwear News, 9 Oct. 2026
  • During peak hours, franchises have 27 to 31 vehicles in the queue, according to the company’s data.
    — Gloria Casas, Chicago Tribune, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of queue
Verb
  • The roughly 7,300-square-foot residence has been adapted for contemporary living without completely sanding away what came before.
    — Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 26 Sep. 2026
  • Bass delves into the ease (or difficulty) of loving people in terms anyone could grasp, sanding down the uniqueness of Cyrus’s viewpoint.
    — Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of sand
Verb
  • As the book shows, into that incredibly fertile downtown atmosphere strode an artist determined to become himself.
    — Sean Wilentz, Rolling Stone, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Heath jumped out of his skin, composed himself, strode over, grabbed my face in his hands and planted one right on me.
    — Virginia Chamlee, PEOPLE, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of stride
Noun
  • The lobby of the Alida, which opened in 2018, has clean lines and tasteful mid-century furniture.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Oct. 2026
  • This buffoon thinks Trump was way out of line, writes columnist Steve Lopez.
    — Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of line
Verb
  • Each refillable case secures with a satisfying magnetic closure, and is polished with an alabaster finish.
    — Kiana Murden, Vogue, 6 Oct. 2026
  • These natural diamonds are often cloudy and oddly shaped, and lose about 25% of their weight as they're cut and polished into what a jeweler would sell, according to Nathan Renfro, senior manager at the Gemological Institute of America.
    — LAURA TURBAY, ABC News, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of polish
Noun
  • Then there's that vast lobby with its Neoclassical columns and lush foliage wall by celeb horticulturist Charlie Albone.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Rich tried to vocalize his concerns, writing about the dangers in columns for outlets like Time magazine.
    — Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of column

Phrases Containing file

Browse Nearby Words

filching
file
filed
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“File.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/file. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on file

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about file

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

The Words of the Week - Oct. 9

Why do we call it a 'flea market'?
See More

Popular

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
a cup of tea and a golf ball on tee side by side
Quiz: Sounds Like... Choose the word that sounds like it fits the clue...
See All