backfill

/ˈbækˌfɪl/
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The act of filling a physical space again or supplying what is missing to make a structure, position, or record complete.

Examples

  • We could not backfill every position after the resignations.
  • The crew did not backfill until the inspector approved the work.
  • Poorly compacted backfill caused the pavement to sink.
  • After planting the tree, gently backfill around its roots.
  • The grant will not fully backfill the lost funding.

Similar words

infill
refill
fill
replenish
filling
replace
restore
aggregate
pack
fill in

Meanings

Refill an excavation

verb
construction
neutral
To refill a hole, trench, mine, or other excavation, usually with soil, rock, or material removed earlier.

Examples

  • Workers backfilled the trench after repairing the pipe.
  • Should we backfill the hole with gravel or soil?
  • The crew did not backfill until the inspector approved the work.
  • They are backfilling the old mine with waste rock.
  • After planting the tree, gently backfill around its roots.

Similar words

Material used to refill a space

noun
construction
technical
Soil, rock, gravel, or another material placed into an excavation or behind a structure to fill space and provide support.

Examples

  • Clean gravel was used as backfill around the drain.
  • The engineer tested the backfill before the road reopened.
  • Do not use frozen soil as backfill.
  • Poorly compacted backfill caused the pavement to sink.
  • The mine turns waste rock into underground backfill.

Similar words

Supply something that is missing

verb
workplace
neutral
To replace a missing person, resource, amount, or piece of information so that a role, schedule, budget, or record becomes complete.

Examples

  • The hospital hired two nurses to backfill vacant shifts.
  • Can anyone backfill for Maya while she is on leave?
  • The grant will not fully backfill the lost funding.
  • The system backfilled three years of missing sales data.
  • We could not backfill every position after the resignations.

Similar words

Etymology

A compound of back, meaning toward a former place or condition, and fill. The verb is recorded from the late nineteenth century, and the noun from around 1900.

FAQ

What does backfill mean?

Backfill means to refill an excavation or supply something missing. As a noun, it is material used to refill an excavation.

Can backfill refer to replacing an employee?

Yes. An employer can backfill a vacant position or shift by assigning or hiring someone.

What is backfill in construction?

In construction, backfill is soil, gravel, rock, or similar material placed in an excavation or behind a structure.

Can data be backfilled?

Yes. To backfill data is to add older or missing records so that a dataset becomes complete.

How are backfilled and backfilling spelled?

Both forms double the final l of backfill.

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