file
file — verb
1. to put documents, letters, or forms into a particular order and store them in a
to put documents, letters, or forms into a particular order and store them in a container so that you can find them again later
Wei filed all the invoices by date in the grey metal cabinet.
file + noun phrase + by + category
The office assistant filed the signed contracts alphabetically before the weekend.
Kwame spent an hour filing old medical records in the basement storage room.
The librarian filed the returned picture books on the shelves by category.
- store
broader; can mean keeping anything anywhere, not necessarily in an organized system
- categorize
focuses on sorting by type rather than physically putting into a container
- discard
to throw away rather than keep in order
文法句型
file + noun phrase
用法筆記
The direct object is usually a group of documents (invoices, contracts, forms) rather than a single piece of paper.
常見錯誤
2. to give an official document such as a tax return, an application, or a claim to
to give an official document such as a tax return, an application, or a claim to a government department or similar organization
Ananya filed her tax return online before the April fifteenth deadline.
file + tax return / application / claim
Chen filed a formal complaint with the local health department about the restaurant.
Valentina filed for unemployment benefits after the factory closed down.
The bakery owner filed the necessary permits with the city council.
文法句型
file + noun phrase
file for + noun phrase
用法筆記
Commonly used with 'tax return', 'complaint', 'application', 'claim', 'permit'. The preposition 'for' is used when the object is the thing being requested rather than the document itself.
常見錯誤
3. to start a legal case or make a formal record in a court of law by submitting th
to start a legal case or make a formal record in a court of law by submitting the required documents, for example a lawsuit, a charge, or a petition
Qadir filed a lawsuit against the construction company for unsafe working conditions.
file a lawsuit / a charge / a motion
The couple filed for divorce after being married for fifteen years.
Thandiwe filed a complaint with the district court about the unfair eviction.
The defence lawyer filed a motion to dismiss the case on procedural grounds.
文法句型
file + noun phrase
file for + noun phrase
file + that-clause
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 2 (SUBMIT DOCUMENTS): sense 3 specifically involves legal proceedings at a courthouse. 'File for' with a legal outcome (divorce, bankruptcy) belongs here.
常見錯誤
4. when a journalist sends a news article, report, or story to the main office of a
when a journalist sends a news article, report, or story to the main office of a newspaper, radio station, or news website, often by electronic means
The war correspondent filed a story about the refugee camp from Beirut.
file a story / a report / an article from [location]
Ximena filed her report on the election results just before midnight.
The sports journalist filed three short articles from the Olympic stadium.
Noa filed a breaking news update about the earthquake from the capital city.
文法句型
file + noun phrase (story/report/article)
用法筆記
Almost exclusively used in journalism. The subject is always a reporter or journalist; the object is a piece of news content (story, report, article, column).
5. to walk one after another in a single line, each person following the person in
to walk one after another in a single line, each person following the person in front
The children filed into the classroom quietly after the bell rang.
file into / out of / past / through — movement preposition
The audience filed out of the theatre slowly after the final curtain.
Ivan watched the soldiers file past the memorial in total silence.
The passengers filed through the narrow gate one by one.
文法句型
file + adverb/preposition (into/out/through/past)
用法筆記
Always used with a preposition or adverb indicating direction (into, out of, past, through, in). The verb itself describes the single-file formation; the direction is expressed by the following particle.
常見錯誤
6. to rub a wooden, metal, or plastic object with a rough metal tool in order to ma
to rub a wooden, metal, or plastic object with a rough metal tool in order to make its surface smooth, flat, or a particular shape
Theo filed the rough edge of the wooden shelf until it felt smooth.
file + object + smooth / flat / down
Minh filed down the metal latch so the door would close properly.
The jeweller filed away the tiny scratches on the silver ring.
Valentina filed her fingernails into a neat oval shape before painting them.
文法句型
file + noun phrase (object) + adjective (smooth/flat)
file + noun phrase + adverb (down/off/away)
用法筆記
Often combined with particles 'down' (to remove material) or 'away' (to eliminate entirely). The result adjective (smooth, flat, round) can follow the object.
常見錯誤
file — noun
1. a flat folded container made of stiff paper or plastic, used for holding documen
a flat folded container made of stiff paper or plastic, used for holding documents, letters, and forms so they stay neat and organized
Theo pulled a blue file from the drawer and took out the contract.
countable noun: a file / the file / files
We keep all student records in a red file marked with each person's name.
The secretary handed me a thick file full of invoices and receipts.
I need to buy a new plastic file for next month's project notes.
用法筆記
Often used with 'in' (put the papers in a file) and 'out of' (take the papers out of a file). Can also refer to a filing cabinet as a whole in office contexts.
常見錯誤
2. a collection of information, documents, or reports kept about a particular perso
a collection of information, documents, or reports kept about a particular person, event, or topic, either in physical or electronic form
The hospital keeps a medical file on every patient who stays overnight.
keep / have a file on [someone / something]
The police opened a file on the suspicious disappearance last March.
Ananya's employment file contains her contract, reviews, and training records.
The journalist requested access to the government's file on the pollution case.
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1 (PAPER CONTAINER): sense 1 is the physical container; sense 2 is the content — the information itself. You can have 'a file on someone' (sense 2) that is kept in 'a file' (sense 1).
3. a collection of information stored electronically on a computer, phone, or other
a collection of information stored electronically on a computer, phone, or other device as a single unit, identified by a unique name
Wei saved the photo as a JPEG file on the desktop.
save / open / delete / create a file
Ximena attached a PDF file to her email before sending it.
The virus deleted several important system files from the hard drive.
Chen could not open the video file because his computer was too old.
用法筆記
Common with verbs: open, save, close, delete, copy, move, upload, download, attach. File types are indicated by extensions (.docx, .pdf, .jpg, .mp3).
常見錯誤
4. a row of people or animals positioned or moving one behind the other, each follo
a row of people or animals positioned or moving one behind the other, each following the one in front
The tourists walked in single file along the narrow mountain path.
in single file / in a file
A long file of schoolchildren crossed the street at the traffic light.
The hikers formed a file to pass through the narrow gap in the rocks.
A file of ants marched across the kitchen counter toward the sugar jar.
用法筆記
Commonly occurs in the fixed phrase 'in single file' or 'in a file'. The verb equivalent is 'file' (verb sense 5: WALK IN LINE).
常見錯誤
5. a thin metal bar with a rough, ridged surface, used for rubbing against wood, me
a thin metal bar with a rough, ridged surface, used for rubbing against wood, metal, plastic, or fingernails to make the surface smooth or to shape it
The carpenter used a flat file to smooth the edge of the wooden door.
use a file / a file is a tool for smoothing
Kwame bought a set of files for shaping metal at his workshop.
A nail file is smaller and finer than a woodworker's file.
The jeweller picked up a round file to widen the ring's hole.
- rasp
a coarser type of file with larger teeth, used for rapid removal of material
- emery board
a flat strip coated with abrasive, specifically for fingernails
用法筆記
Different types: flat file (flat surface), round file (cylindrical), nail file (small, for fingernails). The verb equivalent is 'file' (verb sense 6: SMOOTH SURFACE).