fulfill

verb

fuul-FIL/fʊlˈfɪl/

Formsfulfills, fulfilling, fulfilled

UK spellingfulfil

4 meanings of fulfill

1
carry outverbtransitive
To do something you promised or were asked to do, all the way through.
She worked hard to fulfill her promise to her grandmother.
He fulfilled his duty as a citizen and voted in the election.
Similarperform, realize
Oppositebreak, breach, neglect
Note
2
feel completeverbtransitive
To make someone feel happy and complete, or to use your talents fully.
Like filling an empty cup until it feels full inside.
Working in the garden can fulfill him more than any office job.
A good job should fulfill you, not just pay the bills.
Similarsatisfy, gratify
Oppositefrustrate
Note
3
ship ordersverbtransitive
To pack and send out goods that people have ordered.
Like a kitchen putting together each takeout order and sending it out the door.
The warehouse works late to fulfill online orders.
They fulfilled thousands of orders during the sale.
Similarfill, ship, process, dispatch
Note

Less common meaning

4
pack fullverbarchaic
To fill something completely, all the way up.
The silence which benumbs or strains the sense Fulfils with awe the soul's despair unweeping
1870, James Thomson, The City of Dreadful NightHere, Fulfils means fills completely, so the soul is filled with awe.
My lady is positively fulfilled of grace.
Here, fulfilled means completely filled, so she is full of grace.
Note

Practice

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Origin

From Old English fullfyllan, meaning "to fill full," made from ful- plus fill.