fulfill

fulfill — verb

1. to do what you have promised, agreed, or been expected to do — for example, carr

1.verbtransitiveB1
Definition

to do what you have promised, agreed, or been expected to do — for example, carrying out a promise, a duty, a plan, or a dream so that it becomes real.

Example

Felix fulfilled his promise to help his sister move into her new apartment.

fulfill + promise (+ to-infinitive)

The company failed to fulfill the terms of the contract with its suppliers.

negative: fail to fulfill + noun phrase

Common collocations
  • fulfill a promise
  • fulfill a duty
  • fulfill an obligation
  • fulfill a dream
  • fulfill a contract
  • fulfill a role
  • fulfill a responsibility
Synonyms
  • carry out

    more concrete and everyday; often used for instructions, orders, or plans

  • execute

    more formal; suggests carrying out something precisely, often in official or legal contexts

  • accomplish

    emphasizes successful completion of a task or goal rather than meeting an obligation

Antonyms
  • break

    used with 'promise' — to not do what you promised

  • neglect

    to fail to carry out a duty or responsibility

Grammar Patterns

fulfill + noun phrase

Usage Note

Commonly used with nouns such as promise, duty, obligation, contract, dream, ambition, role, and responsibility as the direct object.

Common Mistakes

She completed her promise to call him.
She fulfilled her promise to call him.
'complete' is used for tasks and projects; 'fulfill' is the correct verb for a promise or commitment.
He achieved his duties before the deadline.
He fulfilled his duties before the deadline.
'achieve' works for goals and targets, not for duties or obligations.

2. to satisfy a need, requirement, condition, or desire — for example, meeting a cu

2.verbtransitiveB1
Definition

to satisfy a need, requirement, condition, or desire — for example, meeting a customer's order, a job's qualifications, a set of criteria, or someone's emotional needs so they feel content or complete.

Example

The new software fulfills all the requirements the manager asked for.

fulfill + requirement(s) — inanimate subject

Nia felt that her current job no longer fulfilled her creative needs.

fulfill + need(s) — emotional / creative context

Common collocations
  • fulfill a need
  • fulfill requirements
  • fulfill conditions
  • fulfill criteria
  • fulfill standards
  • fulfill expectations
  • fulfill an order
  • fulfill potential
  • fulfill yourself
Synonyms
  • satisfy

    direct synonym, sounds more natural with feelings and desires

  • meet

    common with requirements, standards, and conditions; slightly less formal than 'fulfill'

  • comply with

    more formal; used with rules, regulations, and official requirements

Antonyms
  • fail

    to not meet a requirement or expectation

  • fall short of

    to almost but not completely meet a standard or need

Grammar Patterns

fulfill + noun phrase

Usage Note

Frequently used with nouns such as need, requirement, condition, criteria, standard, expectation, order, and potential as the direct object. This is the sense used in the common phrase 'fulfill yourself' (to develop your abilities and feel satisfied).

Common Mistakes

This job completes my expectations.
This job fulfills my expectations.
'complete' means to finish; 'fulfill' means to meet or satisfy expectations.
The product satisfies the order very quickly.
The product fulfills the order very quickly.
'satisfy' is used for people's feelings; 'fulfill' is the correct verb for orders, contracts, and formal requirements.

Word family

  • fulfillment
    nounB2
  • fulfilling
    adjectiveB2
  • unfulfilled
    adjectiveC1
  • self-fulfillment
    nounC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

These five verbs all refer to doing something that was planned or required, but they differ in focus and formality. Fulfill emphasizes meeting a promise, duty, or expectation (fulfill a vow, fulfill a contract). Carry out is more everyday and concrete, often used for instructions or plans (carry out an order, carry out a test). Execute is formal and suggests carrying out a plan precisely, often in official, legal, or military contexts (execute a strategy, execute a will). Accomplish focuses on successfully completing a goal or task, often one that took effort (accomplish a mission, accomplish a goal). Perform is common in workplace and artistic settings, emphasizing the act of doing a task or duty (perform a task, perform a ceremony). For everyday promises and duties, fulfill and carry out are most natural; for achieving a challenging goal, use accomplish; for formal precision, use execute.

fulfill ↗carry out ↗execute ↗accomplish ↗perform ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

  • fully fulfill
  • finally fulfill
  • partially fulfill

Phrases

  • fulfill a promise
  • fulfill a need
  • fulfill requirements
  • fulfill an obligation
  • fulfill your potential
  • fulfill yourself

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

Fulfill comes from Old English fullfyllan, meaning 'to fill full.' It combines full (complete, entire) and fyllan (to fill). The original image was of filling a container to the brim. Over time, this literal sense of 'making full' developed into the modern idea of making something complete by doing what was promised or satisfying a need.