fulfill

verb

fu̇(l)-ˈfil How to pronounce fulfill (audio)
variants or fulfil
Definition of fulfillnext
1
as in to satisfy
to do what is required by the terms of the football player must remain with the team one more year to fulfill his contract

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to accomplish
to carry through (as a process) to completion you have fulfilled your duties most admirably

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb fulfill contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of fulfill are accomplish, achieve, discharge, effect, execute, and perform. While all these words mean "to carry out or into effect," fulfill implies a complete realization of ends or possibilities.

fulfilled their ambitions

Where would accomplish be a reasonable alternative to fulfill?

While the synonyms accomplish and fulfill are close in meaning, accomplish stresses the successful completion of a process rather than the means of carrying it out.

accomplished everything they set out to do

How do achieve and accomplish relate to one another, in the sense of fulfill?

Achieve adds to accomplish the implication of conquered difficulties.

achieve greatness

When could discharge be used to replace fulfill?

While in some cases nearly identical to fulfill, discharge implies execution and completion of appointed duties or tasks.

discharged his duties

How are the words effect and achieve related as synonyms of fulfill?

Effect adds to achieve an emphasis on the inherent force in the agent capable of surmounting obstacles.

effected sweeping reforms

When would execute be a good substitute for fulfill?

The meanings of execute and fulfill largely overlap; however, execute stresses the carrying out of what exists in plan or in intent.

executed the hit-and-run

When might perform be a better fit than fulfill?

In some situations, the words perform and fulfill are roughly equivalent. However, perform implies action that follows established patterns or procedures or fulfills agreed-upon requirements and often connotes special skill.

performed gymnastics

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of fulfill This document outlines the specific functions and requirements Northern Command—which oversees homeland defense—expects the system to fulfill. —Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 May 2025 To fulfill this segment, history says Sweeney will not hold back considering the urgency of the situation. —Fluto Shinzawa, New York Times, 20 May 2025 For many, even a 10-minute flight can fulfill a deeply personal milestone. —Betsy Pudliner, The Conversation, 19 May 2025 The house not only supplied the actresses with clothes, jewelry, accessories and makeup, but also provided a portion of the budget to allow director Olivier Assayas to fulfill his dream of shooting the movie on 35-mm film instead of digitally. —Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 13 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for fulfill
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fulfill
  1. satisfy
  2. meet
  3. achieve
  4. keep
  5. perform
  6. do
Verb
  • The service offers a number of filters for other dietary requirements, and satisfying taste and texture—not always a guarantee on ready-to-eat meals.
    — Matthew Korfhage, Wired News, 28 May 2025
  • With so much natural beauty right at its doorstep, this region of Chile is bound to satisfy those who are seeking a unique experience.
    — Kimberley Mok, Travel + Leisure, 26 May 2025
Definition of satisfy
Verb
  • With a black brace on his left arm, Steele met with reporters in the home clubhouse before Tuesday’s 4-3 11-inning win over the Colorado Rockies, publicly addressing his future for the first time since the operation.
    — Patrick Mooney, New York Times, 28 May 2025
  • Brailsford and Silverman first met during Pride back in 2015 after they were introduced by mutual friends.
    — Stephanie Sengwe, People.com, 27 May 2025
Definition of meet
Verb
  • Each country is responsible for developing its own plans for achieving those goals.
    — Issy Ronald, CNN Money, 2 June 2025
  • The Sanko Group venture announced that its Next-Gen Recycled Cotton (Pre-Consumer) and Next-Gen Recycled Cotton (Post-Consumer) achieved C2C Certified Circularity at Platinum level.
    — Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 2 June 2025
Definition of achieve
Verb
  • If that kind of freaks you out, keep this in mind: The right diet can have a positive impact on aging—and that includes the aging brain.
    — Alessandra Signorelli, Vogue, 3 June 2025
  • Moscow likely believed the distance itself was enough to keep the aircraft safe from Ukrainian attacks.
    — Benjamin Brown, CNN Money, 3 June 2025
Definition of keep
Verb
  • But this year, the original cast members of Hamilton are not throwing away their shot to perform at Broadway’s biggest night.
    — Olivia B. Waxman, Time, 3 June 2025
  • Also in New York City, Uma Thurman brings her daughter Luna to the opening night of Eurydice, while Ciara performs at King's Cross in London.
    — Toria Sheffield, People.com, 3 June 2025
Definition of perform
Verb
  • The pair's journey on Teen Mom has shown what a year of struggling to get pregnant did to Cheyenne and Zach, both as individuals and as a married couple.
    — Angela Andaloro, People.com, 23 May 2025
  • But then, proving the impossible possible is what these films have done from the start.
    — Keith Phipps, Vulture, 23 May 2025
Definition of do

Browse Nearby Words

führers
fulfill
fulfilled
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Fulfill.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fulfill. Accessed 6 Jun. 2025.

Copy Citation

Share

More from Merriam-Webster on fulfill

Nglish: Translation of fulfill for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Using Bullet Points ( • )

'Bring' vs. 'Take'

Is it 'used to' or 'use to'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Flower Etymologies For Your Spring Garden

How 'Namaste' Entered The English Language

10 Hella Good U.S. Regionalisms

The Clinical History of 'Moron,' 'Idiot,' and 'Imbecile'

And So It Begins: 9 Words for Beginnings
See More

Popular

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Flower Etymologies For Your Spring Garden

How 'Namaste' Entered The English Language
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
image of a green cube out of place in a lineup of red spheres
Odd Word Out: Synonyms Vol. 2 Quiz Figure out which word isn't like the others.
See All