fulfill

/fʊlˈfɪl/

/fʊlˈfɪl/

Other forms: fulfilled; fulfilling; fulfills

The verb fulfill means to fill a need or want. To fulfill yourself personally means to follow your inner passion, like flute-playing, no matter who thinks it's silly.

Fulfill can also mean to meet expectations, or live up to a standard. If you fulfill your teacher's requirement of good behavior and good test scores, she'll give you a star. Finally, fulfill can mean to put into effect, or carry out. You'll fulfill the cookie orders when you deliver boxes of those tasty treats to the people who bought them.

Definitions of fulfill

1. verb

   fill or meet a want or need
   synonyms: fill, fulfil, meet, satisfy

   types:

   answer

   be satisfactory for; meet the requirements of or serve the purpose of

   appease, quell, stay

   overcome or allay

   feed on, feed upon

   be sustained by

   allay, assuage, quench, slake

   satisfy (thirst)

   type of:

   cater, ply, provide, supply

   give what is desired or needed, especially support, food or sustenance
2. verb

   meet the requirements or expectations of
   synonyms: fulfil, live up to, satisfy

   types:

   answer, do, serve, suffice

   be sufficient; be adequate, either in quality or quantity

   cover

   provide for

   bridge over, keep going, tide over

   suffice for a period between two points

   go a long way

   suffice or be adequate for a while or to a certain extent

   function, serve

   serve a purpose, role, or function

   measure up, qualify

   prove capable or fit; meet requirements

   go around

   be sufficient

   type of:

   conform to, fit, meet

   satisfy a condition or restriction
3. verb

   put in effect
   synonyms: accomplish, action, carry out, carry through, execute, fulfil

   carry out, follow out, follow through, follow up, go through, implement, put through

   pursue to a conclusion or bring to a successful issue

   types:

   get over

   to bring (a necessary but unpleasant task) to an end

   run

   carry out

   consummate

   make perfect; bring to perfection

   consummate

   fulfill sexually

   do, perform

   get (something) done

   complete, discharge, dispatch

   complete or carry out

   overachieve

   perform better or achieve a greater degree of success than expected

   turn

   accomplish by rotating

   underachieve, underperform

   perform less well or with less success than expected

   misdo

   do wrongly or improperly

   do one's best, give full measure, give one's best, go all out

   perform a task as well as possible

   ply

   apply oneself diligently

   type of:

   complete, finish

   come or bring to a finish or an end

   effect, effectuate, set up

   produce