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Synonyms

completion

American  
[kuhm-plee-shuhn] / kəmˈpli ʃən /

noun

completions plural
  1. the act of completing.

    Synonyms:
    closing, ending, termination
  2. the state of being completed.

  3. conclusion; fulfillment.

    Her last novel represented the completion of her literary achievement.

  4. Football. a forward pass that has been completed.


Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

Inflected Forms

Nouns

Etymology

Origin of completion

First recorded in 1650–60, completion is from the Late Latin word complētiōn- (stem of complētiō ). See complete, -ion

Explanation

When something comes to completion, it's finished. In football, a pass that's been caught is called a completion. If a wide receiver has a lot of completions, then he had a good day: that means he caught a lot of passes. But if the receiver is out of bounds or drops the ball, then there's no completion. Quarterbacks are judged by their completion rate, too. Off the gridiron, you can use the word completion to talk about anything that's been completed or achieved. Graduation day marks the completion of high school. The completion of a new building or a PhD can take years.

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

Vocabulary lists containing completion

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.

See Examples For:

The commish said James’s decision is delaying the completion of the league schedule, as where he plays next will influence what games the NBA sets for Christmas and other key dates.

From The Wall Street Journal Jul. 24, 2026

Utz said the founding Rice and Lissette family will still own half of the company upon completion of the deal, slated to close by the end of the year.

From The Wall Street Journal Jul. 21, 2026

The plan will likely lead to substantial movement toward completion of the project ahead of the 2028 Olympics and speed cleanup, which nearby residents and businesses have been demanding.

From Los Angeles Times Jul. 21, 2026

It takes place within an open-air arena which not only resembles a giant bird nest but is also actually being used as one - swallows moved into the rafters within days of its completion.

From BBC Jul. 19, 2026

Shadrach sang the last lines over again as if searching for a completion.

From "Across Five Aprils" by Irene Hunt

Covid aside, completions have been higher in recent years, but they still need to accelerate somewhat if the target is to be met.

From BBC Mar. 25, 2026

He finished with 346 passing yards, three touchdowns and several clutch completions down the stretch.

From The Wall Street Journal Jan. 26, 2026

Anam Petit, who served as an immigration judge in Virginia until September, said the administration’s emphasis on speedy case completions has to be balanced against the constitutional right to a fair hearing.

From Los Angeles Times Dec. 29, 2025

Patriots quarterback Draye Maye threw two touchdowns and finished with 282 passing yards from 24 completions as New England improved to a league-best 11-2 at the top of the AFC East.

From Barron's Dec. 2, 2025

He went looking for court rulings, deal completions, or government regulatory changes—anything that might change the value of a company.

From "The Big Short" by Michael Lewis

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