complete

adjective

com·plete | \kəm-ˈplēt

completer; completest

Definition of complete

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a : 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.

2a : 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 2

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

complete with

: made complete by the inclusion of a birthday cake complete with candles

complete

verb

completed; completing

Definition of complete (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

1 : to bring to an end and especially into a perfected state complete a painting

2a : 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.

Other Words from complete Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about complete

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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

In Game 2, the 22-year-old Paddack (1-1, 2.25) struck out four and allowed two runs on two hits and a walk in a six-inning complete game. — Jeff Sanders, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Logan Allen, Chris Paddack strong but Missions split double header," 14 July 2018 Those additional minutes essentially add up to a complete extra game. — Martin Rogers, USA TODAY, "How the World Cup final between France and Croatia will be won," 13 July 2018 Menges pitched a complete game with seven strikeouts. — Terry Monahan, Pomerado News, "Poway softball team heads to Western Nationals," 12 July 2018 The Fever defeated the Lynx earlier this season in Minnesota, but failed to put together another complete game against the reigning WNBA champion. — Jordan Guskey, Indianapolis Star, "Indiana Fever fall to 2-18 in loss against Minnesota Lynx," 11 July 2018 In the Section 2 title game against Fort Pierce, Caleb Smith pitched a complete-game shutout and also contributed at the plate with a bases-clearing double. — Alex Kushel, Sun-Sentinel.com, "West Boynton Little League's youngest all-stars surge into state tournament," 10 July 2018 But the Tigers will take this version of Zimmermann 10 times out of 10, trade value regardless, a version which nearly threw the Tigers’ first complete game this season. — Anthony Fenech, Detroit Free Press, "Where has this Jordan Zimmermann version been for Detroit Tigers?," 7 July 2018 Another complete game — the Orioles’ 17th of the season — follows as Scott McGregor (9-4) stops Detroit, 7-2. — Mike Klingaman, baltimoresun.com, "Remembering 1983: A look at the Orioles' world championship for the week of July 1-7," 1 July 2018 So here’s a toast to Casey, and Abel, and the 14 big-league managers (including the A’s Bob Melvin) who have let pitchers throw complete games this season ... — Bruce Jenkins, SFChronicle.com, "Mexico hopes to end streak against Brazil," 29 June 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

The then-30-year-old quarterback overwhelmed the Lions, completing 21 of 34 passes for 284 yards and two touchdowns while running for 37 yards in a 35-32 victory. — Katherine Fominykh, baltimoresun.com, "After mentoring Michael Vick, new Ravens quarterbacks coach James Urban getting Lamar Jackson up to speed," 13 July 2018 Clay projects Mahomes will complete 63 percent of his passes for 4,401 yards, 21 touchdowns and 15 interceptions, which is good news. — Pete Grathoff, kansascity, "There is a healthy dose of skepticism nationally about Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs," 12 July 2018 Tebow played in 55 games during his four-year UF career, completing 67.1 percent of his passes for 9,286 yards, 88 touchdowns and 16 interceptions while also rushing for 2,947 yards and 57 touchdowns. — Jordan Mcpherson, miamiherald, "This is the new prestigious honor the Florida Gators have bestowed on Tim Tebow," 11 July 2018 Toxicology testing was either not completed or not submitted to the GBI for six of the autopsies. — Alexis Stevens, ajc, "EXCLUSIVE: Majority of those killed by Georgia officers tested positive for drugs," 9 July 2018 Golf Magazine reports the two, once enemies and now friends, nearly played the ‘giggle golf’ game on July 3, but negotiations for the match (and its accompanying prime-time special), couldn’t be completed in that time. — Chris Morris, Fortune, "Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson Will Face Off in a $10 Million, One-on-One Match," 6 July 2018 If the work is not completed by then, the city of Elgin has the authority to use developer funds being held by the city to pay for the remediation work. — Mike Danahey, Elgin Courier-News, "Bright Oaks complying with court order to clean up Elgin Memory Care site," 6 July 2018 Fromm, 19, completed 62 percent of his passes and threw for 2,615 yards and 24 touchdowns as a true freshman at Georgia last season. — Tom Schad, USA TODAY, "Georgia QB Jake Fromm breaks non-throwing hand in boating accident," 5 July 2018 Spain, the 2010 world champion, dominated the entire game, keeping the ball for three quarters of the match and completing four times more passes than the hosts. — Anatoly Kurmanaev, WSJ, "Moscow Celebrates After Surprise World Cup Win," 1 July 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'complete.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Dictionary Entries near complete

Phrases Related to complete

come as a (complete/total) surprise

complete and utter

make a complete/full recovery

undivided/full/complete attention

Statistics for complete

Last Updated

10 Oct 2018

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for complete

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

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More Definitions for complete

complete

adjective

English Language Learners Definition of complete

(Entry 1 of 2)

: having all necessary parts : not lacking anything

: not limited in any way

: not requiring more work : entirely done or completed

complete

verb

English Language Learners Definition of complete (Entry 2 of 2)

: to finish making or doing (something) : to bring (something) to an end or to a finished state

: to make (something) whole or perfect

American football : to throw (a forward pass) to a teammate who catches it

See the full definition for complete in the English Language Learners Dictionary

complete

adjective

com·plete | \kəm-ˈplēt

Kids Definition of complete

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : having all necessary parts : not lacking anything a complete set of books

2 : entirely done His training is complete.

3 : thorough sense 1 complete darkness

complete

verb

completed; completing

Kids Definition of complete (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : to bring to an end : finish complete a job

2 : to make whole or perfect He needs six more state flags to complete his collection.

complete

adjective

com·plete | \kəm-ˈplēt

Medical Definition of complete

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