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

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.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

fulfill fulfilled fulfilling

It isn’t a requirement to carry a full mechanic’s set, and you can likely find a kit that will fulfill your needs at almost any price range.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 20, 2026

Ramdin called member states of the OAS -- an organization that promotes cooperation in the Americas -- and other partners that have pledged support for an international gang suppression force to fulfill their commitments.

From Barron's ● Aug. 19, 2026

But others are still dubious that the city will fulfill its promises — or that the project itself will ever be finished.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 14, 2026

Efforts to fulfill some of his marquee campaign pledges have stumbled, including the messy launch of the pied-à-terre tax.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 12, 2026

I have failed once again to fulfill the expectations of others, which have become my own.

From "The Handmaid's Tale" by Margaret Atwood

Scott Brown also fulfilled some orders for what he believed at the time were AI-related customers.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 22, 2026

“I feel very fulfilled with the 15 years that I’ve been able to play and compete at such a high level and I am proud to say that I’m retiring from the WNBA,” Ogwumike said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 19, 2026

According to BCA Research, hyperscaler cloud backlogs — orders received but not yet fulfilled — have grown by roughly $750 billion over just the past two quarters.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 20, 2026

Beira's Place was established in 2022 by the Harry Potter author and other campaigners who claimed it fulfilled an unmet need for women-only support in the city.

From BBC ● Jul. 14, 2026

Obinze should have taken over and begun talking to Ginika, and Kayode would have left, and Ifemelu would have followed, and the will of the gods would have been fulfilled.

From "Americanah" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

But while he still harboured hope of fulfilling that ambition, Arteta's men focused on the captures of Bruno Guimaraes and Ezri Konsa, while also trying to bring Real Madrid attacker Vinicius Jr to London.

From BBC ● Aug. 24, 2026

“I think those are the most fulfilling conversations.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 16, 2026

Official sources briefing Iranian media stressed that any reopening would depend on the United States fulfilling what Tehran sees as its commitment to end its own naval blockade of Iran's ports.

From Barron's ● Aug. 6, 2026

"This is the most thrilling, entertaining, fulfilling job we could have ever asked for."

From BBC ● Jul. 31, 2026

For a long time they debated what they should do, and how it would be best to attempt the fulfilling of their purpose with the Ring; but they came to no decision.

From "The Fellowship of the Ring" by J.R.R. Tolkien