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

Growth in the September quarter is being capped because Apple can’t fulfill demand fast enough.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 31, 2026

He adapted it from Eiko Kadono’s 1985 children’s novel about a half-witch who strikes out on her own to fulfill a tradition established by her kind.

From Salon ● Jul. 30, 2026

In practice, when it comes to competitive or contact sports, separate teams are usually the only way to fulfill the mandate for equal opportunity.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 24, 2026

Speaking then to the New York Times as a candidate, he said: "This is something that I intend to fulfill."

From BBC ● Jul. 22, 2026

I could also say that he did this not through altruistic motives but selfish ones, in order to fulfill some egotistic impulse of his own.

From "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt

Meanwhile, the share fulfilled by Canadian lumber has shrunk to about 19%, from more than 30% in 2016, the trade group says.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 5, 2026

It summed up an England career that never fulfilled its potential.

From BBC ● Jul. 20, 2026

Clippers owner Steve Ballmer invested $60 million in the now-defunct company that in turn agreed to pay Leonard $28 million for endorsements he never fulfilled.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 9, 2026

In other words, Folayan concludes, the Pasha’s reaction was logical: Since the Americans had not fulfilled their contract, he did not consider himself obligated to fulfill his.

From Salon ● Jul. 4, 2026

Bush fulfilled that promise a few weeks later by placing Lawrence on a special committee formed under Compton to review the Briggs committee’s work.

From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik

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

HBM producers have diverted their efforts toward fulfilling lucrative data-center contracts, resulting in increasing component costs for consumer products.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 18, 2026

“What can I say? Being recognized by my peers in this way is the cherry on top of the most creatively fulfilling experience of my life,” Einbinder said in a statement.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 8, 2026

It was the beauty of a creature fulfilling her exact purpose in the world, being the precise thing she had trained her whole life to be.

From "Huntress" by Malinda Lo