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.

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Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

As far as dinosaur skeletons go, Barry the Camptosaurus ranks among the oldest and most complete. —Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 19 Sep. 2023

The runway is expected to be complete within months, and Termini plans to start selling the lots along the runway after that. —Mitchell Parton, Dallas News, 19 Sep. 2023

No menorah is complete, of course, without the perfect Hanukkah candles that make the Festival of Lights such an illuminating and significant holiday. —L. Daniela Alvarez, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Sep. 2023

Some fund only the construction of your home and then end, while others transition into long-term mortgages once your home is complete. —Aly J. Yale, wsj.com, 19 Sep. 2023

The executives said that number will increase to $225 million after the merger is complete. —Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 19 Sep. 2023

What was planned as the tallest tower in the state of Nevada, at 67 stories, remained in limbo for 12 years, 70 percent complete. —Melinda Sheckells, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 Sep. 2023

Now that the survey is complete, Kipigniuqtit Iñupiuraallanikun is focused on planning another language summit where people from across the region will be able to discuss current language needs and create a language revitalization plan, Creed said. —Alena Naiden, Anchorage Daily News, 17 Sep. 2023

Saturday is the debut of the latest iteration of Reser Stadium, as the west side’s $161 million remodel is complete and ready for business. —oregonlive, 7 Sep. 2023

Verb

Meanwhile, the look was completed with a no makeup-makeup complexion and dagger sharp liners by Daniel Sallstrom. —India Espy-Jones, Essence, 9 Sep. 2023

The contest winner must travel on a U.S. domestic round-trip flight, which must be completed by the end of 2023. —Doc Louallen, USA TODAY, 8 Sep. 2023

The pullout is scheduled to be completed by the end of the year. —Nbc Universal, NBC News, 8 Sep. 2023

Buffett was active in the studio in 2023 and was reported to have completed the album before his cancer recently took a turn for the worse. —Chris Willman, Variety, 8 Sep. 2023

The three combined to complete 5-of-19 passes for 101 yards with three interceptions. —Mark Inabinett | [e-mail], al, 8 Sep. 2023

He was still required to complete 75 hours of community service. —Stephanie Wenger, Peoplemag, 8 Sep. 2023

That album, Equal Strain on All Parts, due Nov. 3, was completed shortly before his death of skin cancer at 76 on Sept. 1. —David Browne, Rolling Stone, 8 Sep. 2023

Even quarterback Malachi Nelson, a five-star prospect from Los Alamitos High who enrolled early for spring camp, saw action, completing one of his three passes. —Thuc Nhi Nguyen, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2023

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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

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

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

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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