fulfill

verb

ful·​fill fu̇(l)-ˈfil 

also fə(l)-

variants or fulfil

fulfilled; fulfilling

transitive verb

1

a

: to put into effect : execute

He fulfilled his pledge to cut taxes.

b

: to meet the requirements of (a business order)

Their order for more TVs was promptly fulfilled.

c

: to measure up to : satisfy

She hasn't yet fulfilled the requirements needed to graduate.

d

: to bring to an end

… she came to install herself and fulfill her time at the house.

—Willa Cather

2

a

: to develop the full potentialities of

He has a lot of talent, but he hasn't really fulfilled his potential.

b

: to convert into reality

… a sense of the failure of life to fulfil its ultimate expectations.

—Leslie Rees

3

archaic : to make full : fill

Her subtle, warm, and golden breath … fulfills him with beatitude.

—Alfred Tennyson

fulfiller noun

Synonyms of fulfill

• satisfy
• keep
• complete
• meet

Choose the Right Synonym for fulfill

perform, execute, discharge, accomplish, achieve, effect, fulfill mean to carry out or into effect.

perform implies action that follows established patterns or procedures or fulfills agreed-upon requirements and often connotes special skill.

performed gymnastics

execute stresses the carrying out of what exists in plan or in intent.

executed the hit-and-run

discharge implies execution and completion of appointed duties or tasks.

discharged his duties

accomplish stresses the successful completion of a process rather than the means of carrying it out.

accomplished everything they set out to do

achieve adds to accomplish the implication of conquered difficulties.

achieve greatness

effect adds to achieve an emphasis on the inherent force in the agent capable of surmounting obstacles.

effected sweeping reforms

fulfill implies a complete realization of ends or possibilities.

fulfilled their ambitions

Examples of fulfill in a Sentence

He fulfilled his pledge to cut taxes.

She failed to fulfill her obligations.

The program is intended to fulfill the basic needs of children in the community.

If we could have that house, our dreams would be fulfilled.

He fulfilled his childhood wish to become a professional baseball player.

She fulfilled her life's ambition when she started her own business.

He's trying to fulfill himself as an artist.

Recent Examples on the Web

After the raid, the company was forced to reduce output to 25 percent of capacity and could not fulfill orders. —Michelle Brané, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Dec. 2025

The Mesa Grande tribe will continue to work with businesses, lawmakers, and, most importantly, with our neighbors, to fulfill that vision to protect and care for the land, honor our traditions and create a brighter future for all our children. —Curtis V La Chusa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Dec. 2025

Last month, Los Angeles acquired former top prospect Grayson Rodriguez from Baltimore in a trade for outfielder Taylor Ward, betting that Maddux and the Angels' staff can help Rodriguez to fulfill his considerable potential. —CBS News, 2 Dec. 2025

This game has been reserved for the SEC’s worst bowl-eligible teams, but there’s a good chance that, since there aren’t enough SEC teams to fulfill all the conference’s bowl tie-ins, the Liberty Bowl will find a team from another conference to compete in Grind City. —Quentin Corpuel, Kansas City Star, 1 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English fulfillen, from Old English fullfyllan, from full full entry 1 + fyllan "to fill entry 1"

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Phrases Containing fulfill

• keep/fulfill one's promise

Rhymes for fulfill

• anthill
• backfill
• bluegill
• crossbill
• distil
• distill
• downhill
• dunghill
• foothill
• fulfil
• goodwill
• gristmill

Kids Definition

fulfill

verb

ful·​fill

variants or fulfil

fu̇l-ˈfil 

fulfilled; fulfilling

1

: accomplish

fulfill a promise

2

: to measure up to : satisfy

fulfill requirements

fulfiller noun

fulfillment

-mənt

noun