fulfill
Americanverb (used with object)
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to carry out, or bring to realization, as a prophecy or promise.
- Synonyms:
- realize, complete, achieve, accomplish
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to perform or do, as duty; obey or follow, as commands.
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to satisfy (requirements, obligations, etc.).
a book that fulfills a long-felt need.
-
to bring to an end; finish or complete, as a period of time.
He felt that life was over when one had fulfilled his threescore years and ten.
-
to develop the full potential of (usually used reflexively).
She realized that she could never fulfill herself in such work.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of fulfill
First recorded before 1000; Middle English fulfillen, Old English fulfyllan. See full 1, fill
Explanation
The verb fulfill means to fill a need or want. To fulfill yourself personally means to follow your inner passion, like flute-playing, no matter who thinks it's silly. Fulfill can also mean to meet expectations, or live up to a standard. If you fulfill your teacher's requirement of good behavior and good test scores, she'll give you a star. Finally, fulfill can mean to put into effect, or carry out. You'll fulfill the cookie orders when you deliver boxes of those tasty treats to the people who bought them.
Vocabulary lists containing fulfill
Beowulf vocabulary
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Commonly Misspelled Words, List 6
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Ungifted
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
A successful OpenAI debut would reassure Oracle’s shareholders that OpenAI can fulfill its roughly $1.4 trillion spending commitments.
From Barron's • Jun. 9, 2026
Right now, the England attack needs bowlers to fulfill three roles, in addition to skipper Stokes.
From BBC • Jun. 2, 2026
“In a weird way, I would’ve rather missed the WBC and win a World Series than getting to fulfill a life dream of playing in Puerto Rico after losing a World Series,” Hernández said.
From Los Angeles Times • May 26, 2026
Dictation isn’t new technology, but until recently it hardly worked well enough to fulfill basic tasks.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 10, 2026
At USC, she took a class in criminal psychology, which she thought would fulfill a credit but wound up touching her deeply.
From "A Deadly Wandering: A Mystery, a Landmark Investigation, and the Astonishing Science of Attention in the Digital Age" by Matt Richtel
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
