fulfill

American  

[fool-fil] / fʊlˈfɪl /

especially British, fulfil

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.

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Other Word Forms

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

Etymology

Origin of fulfill

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

Example Sentences

“I like it,” posted an X user under the handle Jake B. “Players get paid. They can get fined if they don’t fulfill their obligations.”

From MarketWatch

Chava, whose nature demands that she fulfill the needs of others, struggles to comprehend how a person can feel desire for something, yet not wish for its actual fulfillment.

From The Wall Street Journal

This is a bleak comedy of a stalled-out creative life, about a middle-aged man whose lifelong literary ambition, only marginally fulfilled, has left him looking like a failure, even a fool.

From The Wall Street Journal

Nevertheless, "according to the information made known to the group, that contract awarded in December 2025 is not currently being fulfilled", Capgemini told AFP by email.

From Barron's

The Champions League and FA Cup offer hope of fulfilling that ambition, while crucial Premier League clashes with Newcastle and Manchester City loom in the next fortnight.

From Barron's