complete

1 of 2

adjective

com·​plete kəm-ˈplēt How to pronounce complete (audio)
completer; completest
1
a
: having all necessary parts, elements, or steps
a complete diet
b
of a protein : containing all essential amino acids
Beans and grains combined together form a complete protein.
2
a
: total, absolute
complete silence
b
: fully carried out : thorough
a complete renovation
c
of a football pass : legally caught
3
: brought to an end : concluded
a complete period of time
4
: highly proficient
a complete artist
5
of a subject or predicate : including modifiers, complements, or objects
6
of insect metamorphosis : characterized by the occurrence of a pupal stage between the motile immature stages and the adult compare incomplete sense 3
7
: having all four sets of floral organs
8
of a metric space : having the property that every Cauchy sequence of elements converges to a limit in the space
completely adverb
completeness noun
completive adjective

complete

2 of 2

verb

completed; completing

transitive verb

1
: to bring to an end and especially into a perfected state
complete a painting
2
a
: to make whole or perfect
Its song completes the charm of the bird.
Her latest purchase completes her collection.
b
: to mark the end of
A rousing chorus completes the show.
c
: execute, fulfill
complete a contract
3
: to carry out (a forward pass) successfully
The quarterback completed 12 out of 18 passes.
Phrases
complete with
: made complete by the inclusion of
a birthday cake complete with candles
Choose the Right Synonym for complete

Adjective

full, complete, plenary, replete mean containing all that is wanted or needed or possible.

full implies the presence or inclusion of everything that is wanted or required by something or that can be held, contained, or attained by it.

a full schedule

complete applies when all that is needed is present.

a complete picture of the situation

plenary adds to complete the implication of fullness without qualification.

given plenary power

replete implies being filled to the brim or to satiety.

replete with delightful details

Verb

close, end, conclude, finish, complete, terminate mean to bring or come to a stopping point or limit.

close usually implies that something has been in some way open as well as unfinished.

close a debate

end conveys a strong sense of finality.

ended his life

conclude may imply a formal closing (as of a meeting).

the service concluded with a blessing

finish may stress completion of a final step in a process.

after it is painted, the house will be finished

complete implies the removal of all deficiencies or a successful finishing of what has been undertaken.

the resolving of this last issue completes the agreement

terminate implies the setting of a limit in time or space.

your employment terminates after three months

Examples of complete in a Sentence

Adjective He spoke in complete sentences. They sat in complete silence. Verb The project took four months to complete. Her latest purchase completes her collection. The new baby completed their family. The quarterback completed 12 out of 15 passes.
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
Tyler Webster drove in two Scots runs and pitcher Henry Massey pitched a complete game and allowed just two hits. Joseph Dycus, The Mercury News, 14 Mar. 2024 Many of these songs were complete or at least a solid concepts for songs. Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 14 Mar. 2024 Amid growing concerns about high casualties among the troops tasked with protecting the settlements, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon ordered a complete Israeli withdrawal from the enclave. Kate Linthicum, Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2024 Milwaukee's complete streets efforts seek to make streets safe and convenient to pedestrians, bicyclists, transit users and anyone else who wants to use them, regardless of age or ability. Journal Sentinel, 13 Mar. 2024 The complete set of regulations is expected to be in force by mid-2026. Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Mar. 2024 Organic Max Fiber Protein Powder Hemp seed has a complete amino acid profile, deeming this a great pick to include in a balanced diet. April Benshosan, Glamour, 13 Mar. 2024 No celebration of movies would be complete without popcorn. Danielle Directo-Meston, The Hollywood Reporter, 2 Mar. 2024 Per Clabbers, the 596-passenger Silver Moon offers all-suite accommodations and a classic small-ship feel — complete with excellent meals, beverages, and shore excursions all included in your cruise fare. Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 2 Mar. 2024
Verb
Camp completed his film, then showed it to every studio in Hollywood, and every single one wanted nothing to do with it. Mike Barnes, The Hollywood Reporter, 15 Mar. 2024 Seavey completes the nearly 1,000-mile race in a record time of 8 days, 11 hours, 20 minutes, 16 seconds. Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 15 Mar. 2024 In the 1960s, the X-15 completed over 120 flights above Mach 5 at altitudes surpassing those of typical commercial aircraft. Sassie Duggleby, Fortune, 15 Mar. 2024 Pre-load a favorite book or add a Kindle subscription to complete the gift. Paula Lee, Glamour, 14 Mar. 2024 After completing the transaction within a minute, twice as much Bitcoin or Ethereum will be returned to your address. Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 14 Mar. 2024 The film was originally announced as opening in cinemas in March 2024, but WBD recently pushed that back by nine months to allow the picture to be completed. Patrick Frater, Variety, 14 Mar. 2024 The city had agreed to replace the pipes by early 2020 but still has not completed that work, according to a news release Wednesday from the Natural Resources Defense Council. Paul Egan, USA TODAY, 14 Mar. 2024 Redondo also noted that conceptual drawings have been completed for a permanent 3,000-seat stadium at Barnes Tennis Center’s center court, with construction timing to be determined. Glae Thien, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'complete.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English complet, compleet, complete, borrowed from Middle French & Latin; Middle French complet, borrowed from Latin complētus, past participle of complēre "to fill, make up, carry to completion," from com- com- + plēre "to fill" — more at full entry 1

Note: The simplex plēre is only attested in an inscription of 176/77 A.D., as a gerund, and in a comment of the grammarian Sextus Pompeius Festus, that "the ancients also used to say plentur without prefixes" ("plentur antiqui etiam sine praepositionibus dicebant"). If such a verb existed, it was replaced at an early date by prefixed compounds such as complēre, in which the prefix marks perfective aspect.

Verb

Middle English completen, derivative of complet complete entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of complete was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near complete

Cite this Entry

“Complete.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/complete. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

complete

1 of 2 adjective
com·​plete kəm-ˈplēt How to pronounce complete (audio)
completer; completest
1
: possessing all necessary parts : entire
a complete set of books
a complete diet
2
: brought to an end : having been completed
five complete days
3
: being such to the fullest degree : thorough, absolute
complete freedom
a complete failure
4
of a football pass : legally caught
completely adverb
completeness noun

complete

2 of 2 verb
completed; completing
1
: to bring to an end : accomplish or achieve fully
complete a job
2
: to make whole or perfect
the shoes complete the outfit

Medical Definition

complete

adjective
com·​plete kəm-ˈplēt How to pronounce complete (audio)
1
of insect metamorphosis : characterized by the occurrence of a pupal stage between the motile immature stages and the adult compare incomplete sense 1
2
of a bone fracture : characterized by a break passing entirely across the bone compare incomplete sense 2
3
of a protein : containing all essential amino acids compare incomplete sense 4

More from Merriam-Webster on complete

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