complete

1 of 2

adjective

com·​plete kəm-ˈplēt 

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

kəm-ˈplē-tiv 

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

Synonyms

Adjective

• compleat
• comprehensive
• entire
• full
• grand
• intact
• integral
• perfect
• plenary
• total
• whole

Verb

• consummate
• finalize
• finish
• perfect
• polish

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.

See More

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The summons effectively extends the deadline to submit a complete lawsuit. —Chris Eggertsen, Billboard, 22 Nov. 2023

In Ayurveda, it’s referred to as complete chewing, the practice of wholly digesting food from mouth to stomach. —Margaux Anbouba, Vogue, 22 Nov. 2023

This lightweight canvas laptop tote, complete with a clutch purse, is perfect for business, work, office, travel, or school. —Mia Meltzer, Rolling Stone, 21 Nov. 2023

The cushioned midsole offers ample energy return while the high-top design laces up around your ankles for complete, reliable support. —Jessica MacDonald, Travel + Leisure, 21 Nov. 2023

The final disbursement claim can be made once the project is complete in India. —Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 21 Nov. 2023

Unwind in style with the Ghia Cocktail Box, which comes complete with everything from a bottle of Ghia to a fancy pour spout to a handmade Totem Glass designed in collaboration with Sophie Lou Jacobsen. —Kate Kassin, Bon Appétit, 21 Nov. 2023

The whole city gets out of bed ready to cheer on complete strangers for hours and hours, with bars overflowing into the streets and city blocks turning into dance parties. —Katie Henwood, Vogue, 10 Nov. 2023

There was a complete transformation to bring the character’s imagination to life and also a physical intervention. —Callum McLennan, Variety, 10 Nov. 2023

Verb

After the initial captives exchange is completed, there will still be about 190 remaining hostages in Gaza, though the deal leaves open the possibility of further exchanges. —Frances Vinall, Washington Post, 23 Nov. 2023

To complete the picture, consider pairing it with matching flowers as a centerpiece, creating a setup that’s bound to be the talk of the year. —Poppy Morgan, Rolling Stone, 22 Nov. 2023

Per Deadline, a script for the film hasn't been completed yet, following the delay with the Writers Guild of America strike, which ended in September. —Kelsie Gibson, Peoplemag, 22 Nov. 2023

With all seven men now going through their paces, BTS is expected to reconvene in 2025 when all have completed their duty to country. —Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 22 Nov. 2023

The six-member band is also busy completing a run of dates across theaters in the United States. —Thania Garcia, Variety, 21 Nov. 2023

Advertisement Gazzaniga completed 17 of 34 passes for 240 yards and scored the game’s final touchdown on a 24-yard run with 36 seconds left. —Steve Galluzzo, Los Angeles Times, 11 Nov. 2023

In October and on Thursday, the Legislative Joint Auditing Committee delayed completing its review of that audit. —Michael R. Wickline, arkansasonline.com, 10 Nov. 2023

To complete the task, however, Monica has to stay behind, trapping her in another universe while Carol Danvers and Kamala Khan mourn her sacrifice. —Jordan Moreau, Variety, 10 Nov. 2023

See More

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

Phrases Containing complete

• complete fertilizer
• undivided/full/complete attention
• come as a (complete/total) surprise
• make a complete/full recovery
• complete and utter
• auto-complete
• complete with

• complete fertilizer
• undivided/full/complete attention
• come as a (complete/total) surprise
• make a complete/full recovery
• complete and utter
• auto-complete
• complete with

See More

Kids Definition

complete

1 of 2 adjective

com·​plete kəm-ˈplēt 

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 

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