ENGLISH
REFERENCE

fulfill

v.
B2 Upper Intermediate US //fʊɫˈfɪɫ// ful·fill Archaic General-service

v. to do something you promised or expected to do. You use this when you finish a task, reach a goal, or satisfy a need.

v. to carry out a task, duty, or role as required; to satisfy a requirement or condition. Transitive — requires a direct object.


SIMPLE

She worked hard to fulfill her dream of becoming a pilot.

CONTEXTUAL

The supplier promised to fulfill the order within three business days to avoid any delays in production.

COMPLEX

While the candidate possessed the necessary technical skills, he failed to fulfill the leadership requirements outlined in the senior management job description.

Synonyms
Origin

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

Usage

The verb is transitive and takes a direct object. In British English, it is commonly spelled 'fulfil'.

Pitfall

He fulfill his promiseHe fulfilled his promiseLearners often forget that 'fulfill' is a regular verb and requires the -ed ending for the past tense.

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