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

For the musician, born Saul Hudson, it’s a dream fulfilled.

From Los Angeles Times

“But I also knew that I was not going to be able to fulfill those requests in the way they wanted.”

From Salon

Yet his popularity among White Christians has not suffered; if anything, he fits their “Cyrus prophecy” about how wicked men can be used to fulfill God’s plans for the nation.

From Salon

Layla Smart has a chance to fulfill a big dream so when she’s hired as choreographer-in-residence in Vermont, she leaves New York to grab her chance.

From Los Angeles Times

In 2021, he fulfilled his contract with Sony Music and went independent – a process he has called "liberating" after years of "struggling to put out the music I wanted to put out".

From BBC