file

FYL/faɪl/

Pluralfiles

Verbfiles, filing, filed

18 meanings of file

Practice

1
computer documentnouncountable
A set of saved information on a computer, kept under its own name.
Like a box with a name tag that holds things you want to keep.
I saved the file to my computer before turning it off.
She couldn't open the file because it was damaged.
UsageYou open, save and delete a file.
Similardocument
Note
2
apply officiallyverbintransitive
To officially send in a form or a request to a court or government office.
Like putting in a request at an office so they will deal with it.
They decided to file for divorce after years of arguing.
You must file with the court before the deadline.
UsageSay file for divorce, but file a form.
Similarapply, petition
3
dossiernouncountable
A group of papers that are kept and stored together.
Like a big envelope holding all your papers in one place.
The lawyer pulled a thick file from the cabinet.
She kept all her medical papers in one file.
UsageWe say papers are kept on file.
Similardossier, folder, record
Note
4
verbtransitive
To put papers or records away in an order so you can find them later.
Like putting toys back in the right box so you can find them next time.
Please file these reports under the right name.
She filed the letters by date.
UsageSay file papers under a name.
Similarstore, archive

Less common meanings

5
smoothing toolnouncountable
A tool with a rough surface that you rub on something, like metal or your nails, to smooth or shape it.
Like sandpaper, but made of hard metal instead of paper.
He used a file to smooth the rough edge of the metal.
She ran the file along the key until it fit the lock.
Note
6
smooth by rubbingverbtransitive
To rub something with a file to smooth it, shape it or cut it, as when you file your nails.
Like using sandpaper to make a rough edge smooth.
Workers file the sharp edges before painting the metal.
She filed her nails into a neat shape.
UsageWe say file your nails or file down an edge.
Similarsmooth, grind, rasp, abrade
7
column of peoplenouncountable or uncountable
A line of people standing or moving one behind another.
Like train cars joined one behind the other in a line.
The students walked in single file along the narrow path.
Soldiers marched in a long file down the road.
UsageWe say people walk in single file.
Similarcolumn, line, queue
Oppositerank
Note
8
verbintransitive
To walk one behind another in a single line.
Like people going through a narrow door one behind another.
The students file into the auditorium each morning.
Soldiers filed slowly past the memorial in silence.
UsageUsually followed by a direction word: people file into, file out of, or file past a place.
Similartroop, march, walk
9
cabinetnounCanadaUSabbreviationclipping
Short for file cabinet: an office cabinet with drawers for keeping folders and papers.
She slid the bottom drawer of the file shut and locked it.
All the old contracts sit in the four-drawer file by the door.
Note
10
send storyverbtransitive
When a reporter sends a finished story to a newspaper or news website.
Like sending in your homework to your teacher before the bell rings.
The reporter will file her story before midnight.
He filed a report about the flood from the scene.
UsageOften used with from to show where the reporter is: file a story from the scene.
Similarsubmit, send
11
chess columnnouncountable
A column of squares that runs up and down a chessboard.
Like the columns of squares that run up and down a game board.
She moved her rook to the open file.
His pawns blocked two of the center files.
Similarcolumn
Oppositerank
Note
12
nounobsoletecountable
A written list or roll of names or things.
a file of all the gentry
c. 1606, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Macbeth”Here, file means a list of names.
Similarroll, list, register, roster
13
crafty personnounarchaic
A clever, crafty person who knows how to get what they want.
Will is an old file, in spite of his smooth face.
1857, W[illiam] M[akepeace] Thackeray, The Virginians. A Tale of the Last CenturyHere, file means a sly, clever person.
The greatest character among them was that of a Pickpocket, or, in truer language, a File.
1743, Henry Fielding, The Life and Death of Jonathan WildHere, File means a sly, clever person, here a pickpocket.
Note
14
make dirtyverbarchaic
To make something dirty or unclean.
for Banquo's issue have I fil'd my mind
c. 1606, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Macbeth”Here, fil'd means made dirty, so he has spoiled his mind.
Note
15
nouncountable
A folder, binder, or box where you keep papers so they stay together and in the right order.
I keep all my school reports in a red plastic file.
Mom bought three new files to hold the bills.
Similarfolder
Note
16
noun
A small group of soldiers separated from a larger force.
17
nounobsolete
A line of thinking, or the path a story follows from start to end.
Let me resume the file of my narration.
1642, Henry Wotton, A Short View of the Life and Death of George VilliersHere, file means the thread of a story, so I go back to telling it.
18
nounrare
A row of kitchen cabinets and appliances along one wall, mostly heard in the names single-file kitchen and double-file kitchen.

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of file apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origins

Meanings 1–4, 9–10, 12, 15

From Old French fil meaning "thread," from Latin filum, also meaning "thread."

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 2 facts

File comes from Old French fil, meaning "thread". en.wiktionary.org
Old French fil comes from Latin filum, meaning "thread". en.wiktionary.org

Meanings 7–8, 11

French file is the source. It goes back to the verb filer, which meant to spin out or to put things one behind another, and before that to a Latin word for "thread."

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 4 facts

English file derives from French file. en.wiktionary.org
French file derives from the verb filer. en.wiktionary.org
Filer meant to spin out or arrange things one behind another. en.wiktionary.org
The word ultimately derives from Latin filum, meaning thread. en.wiktionary.org

Meanings 5–6, 13

From Old English fēl or fēol, meaning "file," from an old Germanic word for a file or rasp.

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 2 facts

The tool name descends from Old English fēl or fēol, meaning "file". en.wiktionary.org
The Old English forms descend from an earlier Germanic word meaning "file" or "rasp". en.wiktionary.org

Meaning 14

From Old English fȳlan, meaning "to defile or make foul."

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 2 facts

File derives from Old English fȳlan through Middle English. en.wiktionary.org
Old English fȳlan means “to defile or make foul.” en.wiktionary.org