fulfill
fuul-FIHL
Fulfill (verb) means to carry out or complete a promise, duty, or requirement. Example: “He worked hard to fulfill every condition in the contract before the deadline.”
verb
1
To carry out or complete a promise, duty, or requirement.
"He worked hard to fulfill every condition in the contract before the deadline."
"She fulfilled her promise to visit every weekend."
"The company must fulfill its contractual obligations."
2
To satisfy someone emotionally or bring their talents and potential fully to life.
"Painting fulfills her more than any job she has ever had."
"Many people say that helping others fulfills them in a deep way."
"Teaching fulfills him in a way his old office job never did."
3
To process and ship an order once it has been placed.
"Our small shop fulfills online orders from a spare room at the back."
"The company fulfilled your order yesterday, so the parcel should arrive soon."
"The warehouse fulfills thousands of orders a day."
How to use fulfill
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo complete something you said you would do, or to make someone feel satisfied and complete.
UK vs US
American English spells it "fulfill"; British English uses "fulfil."
Common pairings
fulfill a promise
fulfill your potential
fulfill an order
fulfill a requirement
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- fulfills
- Past tense
- fulfilled
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He worked hard to _____ every condition in the contract before the deadline.
Etymology
From Old English fullfyllan, literally "to fill full" — full + fill.
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “fulfill” mean?
The word “fulfill” means to carry out or complete a promise, duty, or requirement. In plain terms, to complete something you said you would do, or to make someone feel satisfied and complete.
How do you pronounce “fulfill”?
“Fulfill” is pronounced fuul-FIHL (/fʊlˈfɪl/ in IPA).
How do you use “fulfill” in a sentence?
Here is “fulfill” used in a sentence: “She fulfilled her promise to visit every weekend.”
What part of speech is “fulfill”?
“Fulfill” is a verb.
Where does the word “fulfill” come from?
The word “fulfill” comes from Old English. From Old English fullfyllan, literally "to fill full" — full + fill.
Is “fulfill” a common word?
“Fulfill” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “fulfill” have?
“Fulfill” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to carry out or complete a promise, duty, or requirement.
What is the difference between fulfill and fulfil?
Fulfill and fulfil are the same word with different spellings: fulfill is the standard American English spelling, while fulfil is the standard British English spelling. Both are pronounced identically and mean the same thing.
What is the difference between fulfill and satisfy?
Fulfill often implies fully carrying out a promise, duty, or requirement to completion, such as fulfilling a contract. Satisfy can be broader, referring to meeting a need or desire, and doesn't always carry the sense of completing an obligation.
What does fulfill mean in e-commerce?
In an e-commerce or retail context, to fulfill an order means to process and ship it after a customer has placed it. This includes picking, packing, and delivering the product, and is the basis for terms like "order fulfillment" and "fulfillment center."
