complete
complete — verb
1. to add what is missing so that something has all the parts it should have
to add what is missing so that something has all the parts it should have
Aiko found the missing piece and completed the jigsaw puzzle.
collocation: complete a puzzle / set / collection
The artist spent three years completing her collection of landscape paintings.
One more stamp will complete Hiro's set of vintage postage stamps.
collocation: complete a set
The final chapter completes the story by revealing how the hero escaped.
We need four new dining chairs to complete the furniture set.
- complete a set
- complete a collection
- complete a puzzle
- complete a picture
- complete the look
- fill
focuses on adding content to an empty space rather than perfecting an existing whole
- round out
informal; suggests improving by adding variety
- supplement
more formal; adding extra material to improve something
- incomplete
the opposite state, missing parts
- lack
verb form showing absence of necessary parts
Grammar Patterns
complete + noun phrase (object)
Usage Note
Object is commonly a set, collection, or group that was missing something.
Common Mistakes
2. to write or type all the information requested on a form, application, or other
to write or type all the information requested on a form, application, or other official document
Priya carefully completed the visa application form before the deadline.
collocation: complete a form / application
Please complete this short questionnaire about your shopping habits.
Diego completed the online registration form for the summer course.
You must complete all sections of the tax return by the end of January.
passive: must be completed
The nurse asked Leila to complete a medical history form before the check-up.
- complete a form
- complete an application
- complete a questionnaire
- complete a survey
- complete a section
- leave blank
to skip a section on a form intentionally
Grammar Patterns
complete + noun phrase (form/application/document)
Usage Note
Frequently used in instructions and commands ('Complete the form below'). Object must be a document with blank spaces for information.
Common Mistakes
3. to do all the work needed for a task or activity and reach its end point
to do all the work needed for a task or activity and reach its end point
The construction crew completed the new library ahead of schedule.
collocation: complete a project / building
Leila completed her degree in biology at the University of Oslo last spring.
Tomás completed the marathon in under four hours on his first try.
The research project will be completed by the end of this year.
passive form: be completed
Hana completed her chef training course and received a certificate this morning.
- complete a task
- complete a course
- complete a degree
- complete a project
- complete work
- abandon
to stop before reaching the end
- leave unfinished
to stop work before completion
Grammar Patterns
complete + noun phrase (task/course/degree/work)
Common Mistakes
4. in American football, rugby, and similar team sports, to throw the ball so that
in American football, rugby, and similar team sports, to throw the ball so that a teammate catches it successfully
The quarterback completed a long pass to the wide receiver in the end zone.
collocation: complete a pass
Omar completed three consecutive passes during the final minute of the game.
The team could not complete a single pass in the heavy rain and wind.
Nadia completed a short pass to her teammate, who then scored a try.
- complete a pass
- complete a throw
- complete a forward pass
- connect on
informal sports language; emphasizes successful reception
- incomplete
the official term for a pass that is not caught
Grammar Patterns
complete + a (pass / throw)
Usage Note
Used primarily for forward passes in American football. The object is almost always 'a pass' or a specific description of the throw.
Common Mistakes
5. to finalize the legal transfer of a house, flat, or piece of land from one owner
to finalize the legal transfer of a house, flat, or piece of land from one owner to another
The Watanabe family completed on their new house last Wednesday morning.
intransitive: complete on [property]
We expect to complete the sale of our apartment by the end of March.
transitive: complete the sale
The buyers completed the purchase of the farm after the bank approved their loan.
Yara completed on her flat last Friday and received the keys the same afternoon.
The solicitor called to say the sale had completed on the old cottage.
passive: the sale had completed
- complete on a property
- complete the sale
- complete the purchase
- complete on a house
- settle
used in US property contexts; more general legal term
- fall through
when a property sale fails before completion
Grammar Patterns
complete on + property (intransitive)
complete + sale/purchase (transitive)
Usage Note
Commonly used without an object in British English ('We completed last week'). The transitive form takes 'sale' or 'purchase' as the object, not the building itself.
Common Mistakes
complete — adjective
1. used to emphasize that a quality or state exists to the highest possible degree,
used to emphasize that a quality or state exists to the highest possible degree, with nothing missing or reduced
The audience sat in complete silence during the final scene of the play.
intensifier collocation: complete silence
It was a complete surprise when Rohan walked through the door unannounced.
intensifier collocation: complete surprise
The storm caused complete destruction in the small coastal village.
Amara felt a complete sense of peace as she sat by the quiet lake.
The project was a complete disaster because no one checked the measurements.
collocation: a complete disaster / failure / mess
- complete silence
- complete surprise
- complete disaster
- complete failure
- complete mess
- complete success
- complete waste
- partial
only to some degree; not fully
Grammar Patterns
complete + abstract noun (silence/surprise/failure)
Usage Note
Used only before nouns (attributive position). Cannot be used predicatively (❌ 'The silence was complete' would mean 'finished,' not 'total').
Common Mistakes
2. containing every needed part, item, or element so that nothing expected is missi
containing every needed part, item, or element so that nothing expected is missing
The museum has a complete collection of Ming dynasty pottery.
collocation: complete collection / set
Bao has a complete set of yoga equipment in his home studio.
The report is not complete without the financial data from last quarter.
We need a complete list of all the guests who will attend the wedding.
collocation: complete list / record
The library keeps a complete record of every book that has been borrowed.
- a complete set
- a complete list
- a complete record
- a complete collection
- a complete guide
- incomplete
missing some parts
- partial
only a part of the whole
Grammar Patterns
complete + noun phrase (set/list/collection)
Usage Note
Can be used both before nouns ('a complete set') and after linking verbs ('the set is complete').
Common Mistakes
3. having reached a finished state with all work done and no further action require
having reached a finished state with all work done and no further action required
Once the roof is on, the house will be complete and ready for inspection.
predicative: be complete
The painting is almost complete; Camille just needs to add the sky.
When the bridge is complete, drivers will no longer need to take the ferry.
The renovation is now complete, and the Kim family can move back in next week.
Your order will be complete once all the items have been packed and shipped.
- work is complete
- building is complete
- project is complete
- order is complete
- process is complete
- incomplete
not finished; still needing work
- unfinished
not yet brought to an end
Grammar Patterns
be / become / get + complete
Usage Note
Only used after linking verbs (predicative position), never before a noun. Compare: 'The building is complete' (finished) vs 'a complete building' (having all parts).
Common Mistakes
4. in American football, rugby, and similar sports, describing a throw of the ball
in American football, rugby, and similar sports, describing a throw of the ball that is caught by a teammate
The coach counted thirty-two complete passes in today's practice session.
sports terminology: complete pass
Kofi threw two complete passes before the halftime break.
The quarterback's performance improved after five complete passes in a row.
No complete passes were made in the first quarter due to the strong wind.
- a complete pass
- complete passes
- complete a forward pass
- caught
describes the same event from the receiver's perspective
- successful
general term; less specific to sports
- incomplete pass
the official term for a throw that no teammate catches
Grammar Patterns
complete + pass / throw / forward pass
Usage Note
Used only before the noun 'pass' (or specific types of pass). Never used predicatively in this sense.
Common Mistakes
Word family
- completelyadverbB1
- completionnounB2
- incompleteadjectiveB2
- incompletelyadverbC1
- incompletionnounC1
Synonym discussion
Sense: verb/3
Complete and finish are the closest synonyms, but 'finish' is more common in everyday speech ('I finished my homework') while 'complete' sounds slightly more formal or thorough ('The scientist completed the experiment'). Conclude is the most formal of the group and works best for formal events, meetings, or processes ('The summit concluded with a joint statement'). Finalize adds the nuance of making something definite by performing the last required action ('We need to finalize the contract details'). Wrap up is informal and suggests bringing something to a quick end ('Let's wrap up the meeting'). End is the most general and can apply to any event or period ('The movie ended at 9 pm') but is less suitable for tasks with a scope of work. Use 'finish' or 'complete' for tasks like homework, courses, or projects; use 'conclude' for formal gatherings; use 'finalize' when last details are being settled.
Common collocations
Etymology
Complete comes from the Latin word 'complere,' which means 'to fill up.' The prefix 'com-' means 'together,' and 'plere' means 'to fill.' It entered English through Old French in the 1300s, first describing something that had been filled so that nothing was missing.