complete

1 of 2

adjective

com·plete kəm-ˈplēt

completer; completest

Synonyms of complete next

: having all necessary parts, elements, or steps

a complete diet

of a protein : containing all essential amino acids

Beans and grains combined together form a complete protein.

: total, absolute

complete silence

: fully carried out : thorough

a complete renovation

of a football pass : legally caught

: brought to an end : concluded

a complete period of time

: highly proficient

a complete artist

of a subject or predicate : including modifiers, complements, or objects

of insect metamorphosis : characterized by the occurrence of a pupal stage between the motile immature stages and the adult compare incomplete sense 3

: having all four sets of floral organs

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

: to bring to an end and especially into a perfected state

complete a painting

: to make whole or perfect

Its song completes the charm of the bird.

Her latest purchase completes her collection.

: to mark the end of

A rousing chorus completes the show.

: execute, fulfill

complete a contract

: 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

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

Example Sentences

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

Big Blanket Big Blanket Co Original Stretch Blanket Big Blanket Co Original Stretch Blanket $159 at Amazon Snuggle time isn't complete without a good blanket. —

Jasmine Gomez, Women's Health, 20 Mar. 2023 No warm-weather wardrobe is complete without a few staple pieces: white jeans, cute sandals, and of course, dresses made of linen. —

Town & Country, 20 Mar. 2023 No land reimagining would be complete without brand-new eats, and Toontown has them at Cafe Daisy. —

Chelsee Lowe, Travel + Leisure, 20 Mar. 2023 Bynum often reminded her that doctors should deny entry if their questions aren’t answered or the fighter’s medical book isn’t complete. —

William Lee, Chicago Tribune, 19 Mar. 2023 Buy It: Artoid Mode Tulip Spring Table Runner, (from $10, Amazon) La Jolie Muse Cupcake Stand Easter dinner is not complete without dessert. —

Gabriela Izquierdo, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 Mar. 2023 Shake Shack did not immediately return an email seeking comment, but one source close to the project said construction could be complete as soon as next month, with only detail work remaining. —

Mrussell, oregonlive, 17 Mar. 2023 After the updates are complete, the ship will sail two voyages in Iceland and the British Isles, before starting its inaugural Arctic season on June 3. —

Nathan Diller, USA TODAY, 17 Mar. 2023 No dark academia outfit is complete without an argyle sweater vest. —

Hannah Oh, Seventeen, 17 Mar. 2023

Verb

Despite the project’s untimely end, SOFIA managed to complete a large number of observations of the moon—among other celestial targets—in its final flights. —

Briley Lewis, Popular Science, 21 Mar. 2023 Throw on a knit or t-shirt to complete the stylish look. —

Sophie Dweck, Town & Country, 20 Mar. 2023 All of these muscles engage to help support your spine and complete a movement. —

Tiffany Ayuda, SELF, 20 Mar. 2023 The experience takes about three hours to complete, including from when travelers get picked up at their Denali-area hotel to when they get dropped back off at their hotel. —

Megan Dubois, Chron, 19 Mar. 2023 She’s worked with their parents and other adults to complete their high school education and find jobs. —

jsonline.com, 19 Mar. 2023 Mitchell will be at the line looking to complete the three-point play when play resumes. —

Scottie Bordelon, Arkansas Online, 18 Mar. 2023 This is not for solo travel — the trail was designed so a Bedouin guide can lead visitors on the journey, which takes 10 days to complete. —

Catherine Garcia, The Week, 18 Mar. 2023 The sides are still working on compensation details to try to complete a trade. —

Dennis Waszak Jr., ajc, 18 Mar. 2023 See More

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.

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

Time Traveler

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

See more words from the same century

Cite this Entry

Style

“Complete.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/complete. Accessed 24 Mar. 2023.

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Kids Definition

complete

1 of 2 adjective

com·plete kəm-ˈplēt

completer; completest

: possessing all necessary parts : entire

a complete set of books

a complete diet

: brought to an end : having been completed

five complete days

: being such to the fullest degree : thorough, absolute

complete freedom

a complete failure

of a football pass : legally caught

completely adverb

completeness noun

complete

2 of 2 verb

completed; completing

: to bring to an end : accomplish or achieve fully

complete a job

: to make whole or perfect

the shoes complete the outfit

Medical Definition

complete

adjective

com·plete kəm-ˈplēt

of insect metamorphosis : characterized by the occurrence of a pupal stage between the motile immature stages and the adult compare incomplete sense 1