Stuffing: meaning, definitions and examples

This term is commonly used when referring to a mixture of ingredients used to fill poultry, particularly turkey, during festive occasions like Thanksgiving. It can include bread, spices, and sometimes meat.

• The turkey was filled with delicious stuffing.
• My grandmother's stuffing recipe is a family favorite.

Dressing is often interchangeable with stuffing, particularly in some regions of the United States, but can also refer to a similar mixture that is cooked separately from the poultry. It also refers to sauces or toppings for salads and dishes.

• They served cornbread dressing alongside the roast turkey.
• I always add extra dressing to my salad.

Filling refers broadly to any substance used to fill a cavity in food, such as pies, pastries, or sandwiches. It is not typically used for poultry.

• The chocolate filling in the cake was rich and creamy.
• I love sandwiches with a lot of filling.

Forcemeat is a finely ground mixture of meat and other ingredients, often used in sausages, pâtés, and stuffings. It tends to have a more formal or culinary connotation.

• The chef prepared a fine forcemeat for the terrine.
• The recipe called for a combination of chicken and pork forcemeat.

Often used when talking about filling something, typically food, especially when preparing dishes like turkey. It can also mean putting a lot of things into a container or space tightly.

• The chef began stuffing the turkey with a delicious mix of bread and herbs.
• She's stuffing her suitcase with clothes for the vacation.

Typically used when referring to putting things into a suitcase, bag, or container, especially when preparing for travel or moving. It can also be used in the context of packaging products.

• She is packing her bags for the trip to Paris.
• The factory is busy packing the products for shipment.

Generally used in educational contexts where someone is trying to learn a lot of material in a short period. Can also refer to tightly filling a space with too many things, and this often has a negative connotation.

• He was cramming for his final exams all night.
• The students were cramming into the small classroom.

Used when talking about placing goods or materials into a vehicle, container, or system. It can also refer to starting up software or a digital application.

• They were loading the truck with boxes all morning.
• The computer is still loading the new program.