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.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The Registrar of Voters said after election night, results will be updated daily at 5 p.m., except weekends, until the counting is complete. —Jonathan Horwitz, Orange County Register, 6 Nov. 2024

The lot of the property covers a substantial area of 0.6-acre, complete with a pool for outdoor enjoyment. —Bay Area Home Report, The Mercury News, 6 Nov. 2024

Verb

For instance, if users frequently struggle to complete a particular action, consider simplifying the design around that feature. —Abdo Riani, Forbes, 27 Oct. 2024

The incredible feat took 19 days to complete – and seven years of preparation. —Amy Woodyatt, CNN, 27 Oct. 2024

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

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

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