file

plural files

1. A collection of papers collated and archived together.

   It is upon a file with the duke's other letters.

   c. 1604–1605 (date written), William Shakespeare, “All’s Well, that Ends Well”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene iii]

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   We'd like to know a little bit about you for our files We'd like to help you learn to help yourself

   1968 April 5, Paul Simon, “Mrs. Robinson”, in Bookends, performed by Simon & Garfunkel

   Synonyms: document, paper

2. A roll or list.

   a file of all the gentry

   c. 1606 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Macbeth”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene ii]

3. A course of thought; a thread of narration.

   Let me resume the file of my narration.

   1642, Henry Wotton, A Short View of the Life and Death of George Villiers

4. computingAn aggregation of data on a storage device, identified by a name.

   He had created a file for coding to design a new product.

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   I'm going to delete these unwanted files to free up some disk space.

5. A row of modular kitchen units and a countertop, consisting of cabinets and appliances below (dishwasher) and next to (stove/cooker) a countertop.

   Many homes now have double-file kitchens.

6. CanadaUSabbreviationclippingClipping of file cabinet.

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   The Nonfiction Vertical File: […]I spent my university years working in the library at the Maritime School of Social Work. One of my responsibilities was to keep the library's vertical file up to date. The vertical file was a cabinet full of current newspaper and magazine clippings on topics of interest to the students and faculty of the school.

   2010, Beth Critchley Charlton, Englaging the DisEngaged, page 71

present singular third person files · participle present filing · participle past filed · past filed

1. transitiveTo commit (official papers) to some office.

   She filed their accounts yesterday.

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   The episode’s unwillingness to fully commit to the pathos of the Bart-and-Laura subplot is all the more frustrating considering its laugh quota is more than filled by a rollicking B-story that finds Homer, he of the iron stomach and insatiable appetite, filing a lawsuit against The Frying Dutchman when he’s hauled out of the eatery against his will after consuming all of the restaurant’s shrimp (plus two plastic lobsters).

   2012 May 27, Nathan Rabin, “TV: Review: THE SIMPSONS (CLASSIC): “New Kid On The Block” (season 4, episode 8; originally aired 11/12/1992)”, in The Onion AV Club, archived from the original on 29 Mar 2013

   While the girls’ mothers were preparing to file missing-person reports, they received a call that their daughters were fine.

   2026 July 27, Nicholas Muhoro, “The Disappearance of Kayla Berg and the Condemned House Where Her Trail Ended”, in Skip Boring, archived from the original on 28 Jul 2026

   1. intransitivetransitivelawTo submit a formal request to some office.

      She filed for divorce the next day.

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      The company filed for bankruptcy when the office opened on Monday.

      They filed for a refund under their warranty.

      What started as a way to cover my expenses became something I could turn into a full-time job. Within a year, I filed an LLC and made it official.

      2026 April 22, Jillian Sanders, “The Danger of Surrendering Your Financial Independence in a Relationship”, in TIME, archived from the original on 22 Apr 2026

2. transitive(of a journalist) To submit (an article) to a newspaper or similar publication.

   I filed my copy soon after the interview.

3. transitiveTo place in an archive in a logical place and order.

   Troves of documents filed away in the depository.

4. transitiveTo store a file (aggregation of data) on a storage medium such as a disc or another computer.
5. obsoletetransitiveTo set in order; to arrange, or lay away.

   I would have my several courses and my dishes well filed.

   1606, Francis Beaumont, John Fletcher, “The Woman-Hater”, in Comedies and Tragedies […], London: […] Humphrey Robinson, […], and for Humphrey Moseley […], published 1679, →OCLC, Act I, scene ii

plural files

1. A column of people one behind another, whether "single file" or in a grid pattern.

   The troops marched in Indian file.

   Antonyms: rank

2. governmentA small detachment of soldiers.
3. board gamesOne of the eight vertical lines of squares on a chessboard (i.e., those identified by a letter).

   Antonyms: rank

present singular third person files · participle present filing · participle past filed · past filed

1. intransitiveTo move in a file.

   The applicants kept filing into the room until it was full.

plural files

1. A tool consisting of a strip or rod of hardened and coarse metal, used for removing sharp edges, shaping, and cutting, especially through metal; usually a hand tool.
2. archaicslangA cunning or resourceful person.

   Will is an old file, in spite of his smooth face.

   1857–1859, W[illiam] M[akepeace] Thackeray, The Virginians. A Tale of the Last Century, volume (please specify |volume=I or II), London: Bradbury & Evans, […], published 1858–1859, →OCLC

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   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 Wild, the Great

3. obsoleteslangA pickpocket.

   The greatest character among them was that of a pickpocket, or, in their language, a file.

   1743, Henry Fielding, The Life and Death of Jonathan Wild, the Great

present singular third person files · participle present filing · participle past filed · past filed

1. transitiveTo smooth, grind, or cut with a file.

   I'd better file the bottoms of the table legs. Otherwise they will scratch the flooring.

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   Orion hit a rabbit once; but though sore wounded it got to the bury, and, struggling in, the arrow caught the side of the hole and was drawn out. Indeed, a nail filed sharp is not of much avail as an arrowhead; you must have it barbed, and that was a little beyond our skill.

   1879, R[ichard] J[efferies], chapter II, in The Amateur Poacher, London: Smith, Elder, & Co., […], →OCLC

present singular third person files · participle present filing · participle past filed · past filed

1. archaicTo defile.

   for Banquo's issue have I fil'd my mind

   c. 1606 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Macbeth”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene i]

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   I cannot thinke […] So true a bird would file ſo faire a neſt, […]

   1593, anonymous author, The Life and Death of Iacke Straw […], →OCLC, Act I

   Synonyms: befoul, foil, inquinate, assoil, beclart, bedaub, bedirty, imbrue (especially with blood)

2. To corrupt.

   Synonyms: immoralize, lead astray, warp, adulterate, corrupt, debauch, demoralize, detort

plural Files

1. A surname.