Dictionary

fulfill en · VERB

Pronunciation

• /fʊlˈfɪl/
• /fɔɹˈfɪl/ (dialectal)
• (US) audio
• /fəˈfɪl/

Etymology

From Middle English fulfillen, from Old English fullfyllan (“to fill full”). By surface analysis, full- + fill.

Meanings

1. (US, transitive) To satisfy, carry out, bring to completion (an obligation, a requirement, etc.).
   • Japanese retail stores have strove to, and have succeeded in, fulfilling these severe demands, and in doing so, have constantly had to innovate both technologically and institutionally in order to keep up with the competition. 2013 February 6, Hideo Otake, “Revising the Interpretation of the Japanese Economy”, in Michio Muramatsu, Frieder Naschold, editors, State and Administration in Japan and Germany: A Comparative Perspective on Continuity and Change, page 319:
   • You made a promise, son, and now you must fulfill it.
2. (US, transitive) To emotionally or artistically satisfy; to develop one's gifts to the fullest.
   • This is the most fulfilling work I've ever done.
3. (US, transitive) To obey, follow, comply with (a rule, requirement etc.).
   • Unfortunately, you don't fulfill the criteria for extra grants at the present time.
4. (US) To package, distribute, or ship goods.
5. (US, archaic) To fill full; fill to the utmost capacity; fill up.
   • My lady is positively fulfilled of grace.
   • The silence which benumbs or strains the sense Fulfils with awe the soul's despair unweeping 1870, James Thomson, The City of Dreadful Night:

Forms

Deriveds

unfulfillment · fulfiller · wish-fulfilling · unfulfilled · fulfillable · unfulfill · fulfilling · overfulfill · fulfilment · fulfillment · self-fulfilling prophecy · fulfilled

Synonyms

perform · realize

Translations (86)

sk splniť (to comply with) · de erfüllen (to comply with) · cs splnit (to carry out — see also carry out, realize) · grc τελῶ (to carry out — see also carry out, realize) · pt satisfazer (to satisfy emotionally) · osx āfullian (to carry out — see also carry out, realize) · ru удовлетвори́ть (to comply with) · mi whakahei (to carry out — see also carry out, realize) · it soddisfare (to comply with) · pt realizar (to carry out — see also carry out, realize) · sk napĺňať (to satisfy emotionally) · be выко́нваць (to carry out — see also carry out, realize) · ar أَوْفَى (to carry out — see also carry out, realize) · ru осуществи́ть (to satisfy emotionally) · pt cumprir (to carry out — see also carry out, realize) · la sanciō (to carry out — see also carry out, realize) · ru испо́лнить (to satisfy emotionally) · ca complir (to carry out — see also carry out, realize) · io satisfacar (to satisfy emotionally) · ru исполня́ть (to satisfy emotionally) · kix thǖshīu (to carry out — see also carry out, realize) · fr combler (to carry out — see also carry out, realize) · de einhalten (to carry out — see also carry out, realize) · ko 수행하다 (to carry out — see also carry out, realize) · ja 遂行する (to carry out — see also carry out, realize) · bcl utob (to carry out — see also carry out, realize) · ru испо́лнить (to carry out — see also carry out, realize) · enm fulfillen (to carry out — see also carry out, realize) · enm fulfillen (to satisfy emotionally) · hu eleget tesz (to comply with) · fi tyydyttää (to satisfy emotionally) · ro împlini (to carry out — see also carry out, realize) · it completare (to carry out — see also carry out, realize) · de erfüllen (to carry out — see also carry out, realize) · cmn 履行 (to carry out — see also carry out, realize) · sv uppfylla (to carry out — see also carry out, realize) · sq kryej (to carry out — see also carry out, realize) · pt realizar (to satisfy emotionally) · fi täyttää (to carry out — see also carry out, realize) · sk plniť (to carry out — see also carry out, realize) · eo plenumi (to carry out — see also carry out, realize) · enm fillen (to carry out — see also carry out, realize) · ro satisface (to satisfy emotionally) · pt satisfazer (to comply with) · ru осуществля́ть (to satisfy emotionally) · sk splniť (to carry out — see also carry out, realize) · be вы́канаць (to carry out — see also carry out, realize) · hu bevált (to carry out — see also carry out, realize) · es cumplir (to carry out — see also carry out, realize) · ja 実施する (to carry out — see also carry out, realize) · he קִיֵּם (to carry out — see also carry out, realize) · fi täyttää (to comply with) · az yerinə yetirmək (to carry out — see also carry out, realize) · ca satisfer (to satisfy emotionally) · nl vervullen (to carry out — see also carry out, realize) · enm fillen (to satisfy emotionally) · ga comhlíon (to carry out — see also carry out, realize) · fr satisfaire (to satisfy emotionally) · ru удовлетворя́ть (to comply with) · mk исполни (to carry out — see also carry out, realize) · fr satisfaire (to carry out — see also carry out, realize) · es cumplir con (to comply with) · ca omplir (to satisfy emotionally) · pl spełniać (to carry out — see also carry out, realize) · bcl utob (to satisfy emotionally) · ru вы́полнить (to satisfy emotionally) · sk spĺňať (to comply with) · la pleō (to carry out — see also carry out, realize) · ru исполня́ть (to carry out — see also carry out, realize) · ru выполня́ть (to satisfy emotionally) · bcl utob (to comply with) · ar أَدَّى (to carry out — see also carry out, realize) · eo efektivigi (to carry out — see also carry out, realize) · ga comhlíon (to comply with) · sq përmbush (to carry out — see also carry out, realize) · mi whakatutuki (to carry out — see also carry out, realize) · bg изпълнявам (to carry out — see also carry out, realize) · mi whakatūtataki (to carry out — see also carry out, realize) · gd coilean (to carry out — see also carry out, realize) · pl wypełniać (to carry out — see also carry out, realize) · de erfüllen (to satisfy emotionally) · bg извършвам (to carry out — see also carry out, realize) · cmn 履行 (to satisfy emotionally) · it soddisfare (to satisfy emotionally) · grc τελέω (to carry out — see also carry out, realize) · got 𐌿𐍃𐍄𐌹𐌿𐌷𐌰𐌽 (to carry out — see also carry out, realize)