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

Afterward, Lindsay offered a lesson to high school football players about finding a way to stay the course to fulfill your dreams.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 14, 2026

If need be, I can sell other investments to fulfill the required minimum distribution rules and pay the resulting tax bills.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 11, 2026

Ironically, the very thing that Mark felt he needed to fulfill his dream – a large, admiring audience for his illustrations – began to feel like a prison.

From Salon ● Aug. 30, 2026

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

How would they feel to have a son who could not fulfill his knightly duties?

From "The Door in the Wall" by Marguerite de Angeli

And in that way, it will have fulfilled its Netflix destiny.

From Salon ● Sep. 2, 2026

“The reality of today’s NBA is that often the potential of teams is not fulfilled because of money,” Wembanyama told the Athletic.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 9, 2026

“My office followed the law and fulfilled its duty to provide California voters with clear, accessible, and accurate information,” he wrote.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 7, 2026

She recently fulfilled her dream of modelling, walking in a swimsuit for The Chemo Club x Post Swim show at Miami Swim Week.

From BBC ● Aug. 6, 2026

Bigwig’s hopes of action were fulfilled almost at once.

From "Watership Down: A Novel" by Richard Adams

But if you’re looking for joy online, we have diversions to help make this day fulfilling.

From Slate ● Sep. 11, 2026

GS: Entering into a professional relationship with a friend can be inspiring and fulfilling, but also complicated.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 2, 2026

For some people, it’s fulfilling their vision of the American dream.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 2, 2026

"So it was not choosing a side, it was still fulfilling the obligation of protecting and responding to the government's requirements."

From Barron's ● Sep. 1, 2026

Said she wasn’t really living on the place, wasn’t fulfilling the residency requirement.”

From "Hattie Big Sky" by Kirby Larson