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

And in the playoffs, he fulfilled the team’s gaping hole at closer, highlighted by the three perfect innings he pitched in their NLDS-clinching Game 4 win.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Overall, “Gutfeld!” succeeds by existing, fulfilling its mission of winding down the anti-left animosity ginned up by Fox News’ prime-time hosts by ridiculing the people or groups he views as its exemplars.

Read more on Salon

The former has had a rich and fulfilling life, but as so many of his friends and family have died — or “gone to their fiery rest” — he now longs for death.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

“I killed myself all throughout high school to try and get into this school. I was looking forward to being fulfilled by my studies now, rather than being killed by them.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

As part of that effort, the company created a program known as Project Fusion, according to people familiar with the matter, which entails Whole Foods workers fulfilling certain perishable orders placed on Amazon.com.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal