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fulfill

verb
ful·​fill | \ fu̇(l)-ˈfil also fÉ™(l)- How to pronounce fulfill (audio) \
variants: or fulfil
fulfilled; fulfilling

Definition of fulfill

transitive verb

1a : to put into effect : execute He fulfilled his pledge to cut taxes.
b : to meet the requirements of (a business order) Their order for more TVs was promptly fulfilled.
c : to measure up to : satisfy She hasn't yet fulfilled the requirements needed to graduate.
d : to bring to an end she came to install herself and fulfill her time at the house— Willa Cather
2a : to develop the full potentialities of He has a lot of talent, but he hasn't really fulfilled his potential.
b : to convert into reality a sense of the failure of life to fulfill its ultimate expectations— Leslie Rees
3 archaic : to make full : fill her subtle, warm, and golden breath … fulfills him with beatitude— Alfred Tennyson
Other Words from fulfill Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about fulfill

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Other Words from fulfill

fulfiller noun

Synonyms & Antonyms for fulfill

Synonyms

answer, complete, comply (with), fill, keep, meet, redeem, satisfy

Antonyms

breach, break, transgress, violate

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Choose the Right Synonym for fulfill

perform, execute, discharge, accomplish, achieve, effect, fulfill mean to carry out or into effect. perform implies action that follows established patterns or procedures or fulfills agreed-upon requirements and often connotes special skill. performed gymnastics execute stresses the carrying out of what exists in plan or in intent. executed the hit-and-run discharge implies execution and completion of appointed duties or tasks. discharged his duties accomplish stresses the successful completion of a process rather than the means of carrying it out. accomplished everything they set out to do achieve adds to accomplish the implication of conquered difficulties. achieve greatness effect adds to achieve an emphasis on the inherent force in the agent capable of surmounting obstacles. effected sweeping reforms fulfill implies a complete realization of ends or possibilities. fulfilled their ambitions

Examples of fulfill in a Sentence

He fulfilled his pledge to cut taxes. She failed to fulfill her obligations. The program is intended to fulfill the basic needs of children in the community. If we could have that house, our dreams would be fulfilled. He fulfilled his childhood wish to become a professional baseball player. She fulfilled her life's ambition when she started her own business. He's trying to fulfill himself as an artist.
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Recent Examples on the Web

 Harjo has spent her career trying to fulfill this credo. — Maya Phillips, The New Yorker, "Joy Harjo, the Poet of American Memory," 29 Aug. 2019 Kimball added that officials from the Burbank Art in Public Places Commission were leaning toward having a bronze statue to fulfill the art requirement tied to the development of the center. — Anthony Clark Carpio, Burbank Leader, "Hollywood Burbank Airport officials continue to seek art for transportation center," 27 Aug. 2019 Shipmonk, a company that fulfills online orders, recently relocated from Deerfield Beach to Fort Lauderdale’s Riverbend Corporate Park at 201 NW 22 Ave., west of Interstate 95 and north of Broward Boulevard. — Brittany Wallman, sun-sentinel.com, "Fort Lauderdale fuels northwest building boom with $2.1 million for developers," 21 Aug. 2019 Oklahoma hasn’t had a remote reporter at the capitol for years, so students are stepping up to fulfill that role. — Lena V. Groeger, ProPublica, "ProPublica Programs Are Helping Diverse Candidates Break Into Newsrooms. Here Are Their Inspiring Stories.," 21 Aug. 2019 Taveras was just one of a crew of people helping her fulfill a lifelong wish. — Denise Coffey, courant.com, "A Wing, A Prayer, And A Parachute," 26 Aug. 2019 One way to fulfill that objective is to work out, right? — Danielle Young, Essence, "Why Is Body Positivity So Negative?," 23 Aug. 2019 There's no timeline, though, for the 12 major phone companies in the pact to fulfill the promises announced Thursday by attorneys general from all 50 states and the District of Columbia. — Tali Arbel, chicagotribune.com, "Can anything stop robocalls? Attorneys general from every state team up with phone companies on crackdown.," 22 Aug. 2019 There’s no timeline, though, for the 12 major phone companies in the pact to fulfill the promises announced Thursday by attorneys general from all 50 states and the District of Columbia. — Washington Post, "Major carriers, state AGs will work to combat robocalls," 22 Aug. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'fulfill.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of fulfill

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

History and Etymology for fulfill

Middle English fulfillen, from Old English fullfyllan, from full + fyllan to fill

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More Definitions for fulfill

fulfill

verb
How to pronounce fulfill (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of fulfill

: to do what is required by (something, such as a promise or a contract)
: to succeed in doing or providing (something)
: to succeed in achieving (something) : to make (something, such as a dream) true or real

See the full definition for fulfill in the English Language Learners Dictionary

fulfill

verb
ful·​fill
variants: or fulfil \ fu̇l-​ˈfil \
fulfilled; fulfilling

Kids Definition of fulfill

1 : to make real fulfill a dream
2 : satisfy sense 4 fulfill a requirement

Other Words from fulfill

fulfillment \ -​mÉ™nt

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