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)

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Etymology

Origin of fulfill

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

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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

Moynihan said the company had redeployed some staff to fulfill compliance obligations, meaning it won't mean additional costs in the future for these functions.

From Barron's ● Oct. 14, 2026

The HomeView shows that Apple is, at the very least, thinking beyond the iPhone to fulfill that vision.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 13, 2026

“Through the arts, I found my way to healing and transformation. Then I said, ‘How can I fulfill a need that was missing in my life?’”

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 3, 2026

For example: If your priority is paying for a grandchild’s tuition or donating to a beloved charity, you’re more likely to fall for a scheme that promises to fulfill that goal.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 25, 2026

“I’d like to fulfill what’s been a dream of mine for a very long time.”

From "Clean Getaway" by Nic Stone

Lessons will be "totally or partly suspended" in some "400 to 500" high schools as security conditions "have not been fulfilled", Édouard Geffray said.

From BBC ● Oct. 4, 2026

"We have witnessed him giving a lot of promises and they are yet to be fulfilled," said Mahmoud, the artist.

From Barron's ● Oct. 1, 2026

On Tuesday, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul called for an independent investigation and questioned whether the school fulfilled its duty to protect students.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 30, 2026

By making intentional decisions aligned with your goals and values, leading an active social life and contributing to a cause that elevates your spirit, you’re bound to feel more happy and fulfilled.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 18, 2026

But that last dream would not be fulfilled either.

From "One Hundred Years of Solitude" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

Far from fulfilling a Heated Rivalry fantasy with male friends who “had her back,” she entered a dystopia of manosphere misogyny.

From Slate ● Oct. 9, 2026

With better support after diagnosis, they could be helped to live more fulfilling lives, the review said.

From BBC ● Oct. 8, 2026

But a noisy portion of the British public is questioning whether the museum is fulfilling Burnham’s commitment.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 4, 2026

“He lived his 87 years to the fullest, fulfilling his dream of being a Fashion and Costume Designer, which is all he ever wanted to do,” the statement said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 14, 2026

He wanted his students to come to some deeper understanding of themselves, for their lives to be more fulfilling, because they had once passed his way.

From "Drama High" by Michael Sokolove

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