Standard Lemma guide

fulfill

verb · 8 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • /fʊlˈfɪl/
  • /fəˈfɪl/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • dialectal: /fɔɹˈfɪl/
  • rhymes with -ɪl
  • CMU ARPABET: F UH0 L F IH1 L Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To satisfy, carry out, bring to completion (an obligation, a requirement, etc.).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: US, transitive

Examples

  • You made a promise, son, and now you must fulfill it.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: realize, perform

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To emotionally or artistically satisfy; to develop one's gifts to the fullest.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: US, transitive

Examples

  • This is the most fulfilling work I've ever done.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To obey, follow, comply with (a rule, requirement etc.).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: US, transitive

Examples

  • Unfortunately, you don't fulfill the criteria for extra grants at the present time.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

To package, distribute, or ship goods.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: US

Topics: business

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

verb

Meaning 5

To fill full; fill to the utmost capacity; fill up.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: US, archaic

Examples

  • My lady is positively fulfilled of grace.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

6

verb

Meaning 6

fill or meet a want or need

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: meet, satisfy, fill, fulfil

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: provide, supply, ply, cater

Narrower terms: answer, quell, stay, appease, feed on, feed upon, quench, slake, allay, assuage

7

verb

Meaning 7

put in effect

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • carry out a task
  • execute the decision of the people
  • He actioned the operation

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: carry through, accomplish, execute, carry out, action, fulfil

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: complete, finish, effect, effectuate, set up

Narrower terms: get over, run, consummate, do, perform, dispatch, discharge, complete

8

verb

Meaning 8

meet the requirements or expectations of

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: satisfy, fulfil, live up to

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: meet, fit, conform to

Narrower terms: suffice, do, answer, serve, cover

History

Etymology

From Middle English fulfillen, from Old English fullfyllan (“to fill full”). By surface analysis, full- + fill.

Across languages

Translations

86 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Albanian: përmbush — to carry out — see also carry out, realize
  • Albanian: kryej — to carry out — see also carry out, realize
  • Arabic: أَوْفَى (ʔawfā) — to carry out — see also carry out, realize
  • Arabic: أَدَّى (ʔaddā) — to carry out — see also carry out, realize
  • Azerbaijani: yerinə yetirmək — to carry out — see also carry out, realize
  • Belarusian: выко́нваць (vykónvacʹ) — to carry out — see also carry out, realize
  • Belarusian: вы́канаць (výkanacʹ) — to carry out — see also carry out, realize
  • Central Bikol: utob — to carry out — see also carry out, realize
  • Bulgarian: извършвам (izvǎršvam) — to carry out — see also carry out, realize
  • Bulgarian: изпълнявам (izpǎlnjavam) — to carry out — see also carry out, realize
  • Catalan: complir — to carry out — see also carry out, realize
  • Chinese Mandarin: 履行 (lǚxíng) — to carry out — see also carry out, realize
  • Czech: splnit — to carry out — see also carry out, realize
  • Dutch: vervullen — to carry out — see also carry out, realize
  • Esperanto: plenumi — to carry out — see also carry out, realize
  • Esperanto: efektivigi — to carry out — see also carry out, realize
  • Finnish: täyttää — to carry out — see also carry out, realize
  • French: combler — to carry out — see also carry out, realize
  • French: satisfaire — to carry out — see also carry out, realize
  • German: erfüllen — to carry out — see also carry out, realize
  • German: einhalten — to carry out — see also carry out, realize
  • Gothic: 𐌿𐍃𐍄𐌹𐌿𐌷𐌰𐌽 (ustiuhan) — to carry out — see also carry out, realize
  • Ancient Greek: τελέω (teléō) — to carry out — see also carry out, realize
  • Ancient Greek: τελῶ (telô) — to carry out — see also carry out, realize
  • Hebrew: קִיֵּם (qiyyém) — to carry out — see also carry out, realize
  • Hungarian: bevált — to carry out — see also carry out, realize
  • Irish: comhlíon — to carry out — see also carry out, realize
  • Italian: completare — to carry out — see also carry out, realize
  • Japanese: 遂行する (suikō suru) — to carry out — see also carry out, realize
  • Japanese: 実施する (jisshi suru) — to carry out — see also carry out, realize
  • Korean: 수행하다 (suhaenghada) — to carry out — see also carry out, realize
  • Latin: sanciō — to carry out — see also carry out, realize
  • Latin: pleō — to carry out — see also carry out, realize
  • Macedonian: исполни (ispolni) — to carry out — see also carry out, realize
  • Māori: whakahei — to carry out — see also carry out, realize
  • Māori: whakatutuki — to carry out — see also carry out, realize
  • Māori: whakatūtataki — to carry out — see also carry out, realize
  • Middle English: fulfillen — to carry out — see also carry out, realize
  • Middle English: fillen — to carry out — see also carry out, realize
  • Khiamniungan Naga: thǖshīu — to carry out — see also carry out, realize
  • Old Saxon: āfullian — to carry out — see also carry out, realize
  • Polish: spełniać — to carry out — see also carry out, realize
  • Polish: wypełniać — to carry out — see also carry out, realize
  • Portuguese: realizar — to carry out — see also carry out, realize
  • Portuguese: cumprir — to carry out — see also carry out, realize
  • Romanian: împlini — to carry out — see also carry out, realize
  • Russian: исполня́ть (ispolnjátʹ) — to carry out — see also carry out, realize
  • Russian: испо́лнить (ispólnitʹ) — to carry out — see also carry out, realize
  • Scottish Gaelic: coilean — to carry out — see also carry out, realize
  • Slovak: splniť — to carry out — see also carry out, realize
  • Slovak: plniť — to carry out — see also carry out, realize
  • Spanish: cumplir — to carry out — see also carry out, realize
  • Swedish: uppfylla — to carry out — see also carry out, realize
  • Central Bikol: utob — to satisfy emotionally
  • Catalan: satisfer — to satisfy emotionally
  • Catalan: omplir — to satisfy emotionally
  • Chinese Mandarin: 履行 (lǚxíng) — to satisfy emotionally
  • Finnish: tyydyttää — to satisfy emotionally
  • French: satisfaire — to satisfy emotionally
  • German: erfüllen — to satisfy emotionally
  • Ido: satisfacar — to satisfy emotionally
  • Italian: soddisfare — to satisfy emotionally
  • Middle English: fulfillen — to satisfy emotionally
  • Middle English: fillen — to satisfy emotionally
  • Portuguese: realizar — to satisfy emotionally
  • Portuguese: satisfazer — to satisfy emotionally
  • Romanian: satisface — to satisfy emotionally
  • Russian: выполня́ть (vypolnjátʹ) — to satisfy emotionally
  • Russian: вы́полнить (výpolnitʹ) — to satisfy emotionally
  • Russian: исполня́ть (ispolnjátʹ) — to satisfy emotionally
  • Russian: испо́лнить (ispólnitʹ) — to satisfy emotionally
  • Russian: осуществля́ть (osuščestvljátʹ) — to satisfy emotionally
  • Russian: осуществи́ть (osuščestvítʹ) — to satisfy emotionally
  • Slovak: napĺňať — to satisfy emotionally
  • Central Bikol: utob — to comply with
  • Finnish: täyttää — to comply with
  • German: erfüllen — to comply with
  • Hungarian: eleget tesz — to comply with
  • Irish: comhlíon — to comply with
  • Italian: soddisfare — to comply with
  • Portuguese: satisfazer — to comply with
  • Russian: удовлетворя́ть (udovletvorjátʹ) — to comply with
  • Russian: удовлетвори́ть (udovletvorítʹ) — to comply with
  • Slovak: splniť — to comply with
  • Slovak: spĺňať — to comply with
  • Spanish: cumplir con — to comply with
Real reading context

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