<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0508</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2023-12-11</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001378701</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>GDL FUND</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>GDL</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001185533</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GABELLI MARIO J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O GAMCO INVESTORS, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>ONE CORPORATE CENTER</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>RYE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10580</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <otherText>Control Person of Adviser</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <aff10b5One>0</aff10b5One>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Shares, Par Value $0.001</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2023-12-11</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>8.01</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2797577</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Shares, Par Value $0.001</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1846943</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Associated Capital Group, Inc.</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Shares, Par Value $0.001</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>7364</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Gabelli &amp; Company Investment Advisers, Inc.</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Shares, Par Value $0.001</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>244500</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>GGCP, Inc.</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Shares, Par Value $0.001</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>57282</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>GAMCO Investors, Inc.</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Any short-swing &quot;profit&quot; under Section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 will be disgorged and paid to the Issuer.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The shares reported reflect the total shares owned by Associated Capital Group, Inc. (ACG).  Mario J. Gabelli is the Executive Chair and controlling shareholder of ACG.  Mr. Gabelli has less than a 100% interest in ACG and disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares held by it which are in excess of his indirect pecuniary interest.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The shares reported reflect the total shares owned by Gabelli &amp; Company Investment Advisers, Inc. (GCIA), a majority owned subsidiary of Associated Capital Group, Inc.  Mr. Gabelli has less than a 100% interest in GCIA and disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares held by this entity which are in excess of his indirect pecuniary interest.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">The shares reported reflect the total shares owned by GGCP, Inc. (GGCP).  Mario J. Gabelli is the Chief Executive Officer, a director, and the controlling shareholder of GGCP.   Mr. Gabelli has less than a 100% interest in GGCP and disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares held by it which are in excess of his indirect pecuniary interest.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">The shares reported reflect the total shares owned by GAMCO Investors, Inc. (GAMCO).  Mario J. Gabelli is the Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, and controlling shareholder of GAMCO.  Mr. Gabelli has less than a 100% interest in GAMCO and disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares held by it which are in excess of his indirect pecuniary interest.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Douglas R. Jamieson as Attorney-in-Fact for Mario J. Gabelli</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2023-12-13</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
