- 1[transitive] to put and keep documents, etc. in a particular place and in a particular order so that you can find them easily; to put a document into a file file something (+ adv./prep.) The forms should be filed alphabetically. Please file it in my “Research” file. file something away I filed the letters away in a drawer.
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- 2[intransitive, transitive] (law) to present something so that it can be officially recorded and dealt with file for something to file for divorce file something to file a claim/complaint/petition/lawsuit file to do something He filed to divorce his wife.
- 3[transitive] file something (of a journalist) to send a report or a story to your employer
- 4[intransitive] + adv./prep. to walk in a line of people, one after the other, in a particular direction The doors of the museum opened and the visitors began to file in.
- 5[transitive] file something (away/down, etc.) to cut or shape something, or make something smooth, using a file to file your nails
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NAmE//faɪl//
Verb Forms present simple I / you / we / they file he / she / it files
past simple filed
-ing form filing
Check pronunciation: file