fulfill

especially British, ful·fil

[fool-fil]

verb (used with object)

fulfilled, fulfilling 

1. to carry out, or bring to realization, as a prophecy or promise.

   Synonyms: realize, complete, achieve, accomplish

2. to perform or do, as duty; obey or follow, as commands.

   Synonyms: observe, discharge, execute

3. to satisfy (requirements, obligations, etc.).

   a book that fulfills a long-felt need.

   Synonyms: fill, answer, meet

4. 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.

   Synonyms: conclude, terminate, end

5. to develop the full potential of (usually used reflexively).

   She realized that she could never fulfill herself in such work.

Other Word Forms

• fulfiller noun
• overfulfill verb (used with object)
• prefulfill verb (used with object)
• superfulfill verb (used with object)

Word History and Origins

Origin of fulfill¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English fulfillen, Old English fulfyllan. See full ¹, fill

Example Sentences

A “phase one” trade deal signed in early 2020 addressed neither of those points, instead obligating China to buy more soybeans from American farmers—something Beijing largely failed to fulfill.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

"That feeling of giving the opportunity to somebody and fulfilling a dream is unique, and I'm very happy that things turned out to be very positive, and we managed to win the game."

Read more on BBC

The company now expects 2025 capital expenditures of between $91-$93 billion, reflecting massive investments in data centers and computing power to fulfill its AI ambitions.

Read more on Barron's

Your money should also, hopefully, help you have a more fulfilling life.

Read more on MarketWatch

But technology’s march will open new doors to more fulfilling and productive work—in current industries and in companies and industries that haven’t yet been created.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal