Explanation at your level:
To fulfil means to do what you said you would do. If you have a promise, you keep it. If you have a job, you finish it. It makes you feel good.
You use fulfil when you complete a task or a requirement. For example, if you want to join a club, you must fulfil the rules. It is a helpful word for talking about goals.
Use fulfil to talk about meeting expectations or requirements. It can also describe personal satisfaction. 'Does this job fulfil your career goals?' is a common way to ask about someone's happiness at work.
The word fulfil carries a sense of duty and completion. In formal contexts, we use it for contracts and legal obligations. In personal contexts, it describes the emotional state of being satisfied by one's achievements or lifestyle.
Beyond simple completion, fulfil implies the realization of one's latent potential. It is often used in philosophical or high-level professional discourse to describe the alignment of external requirements with internal aspirations. It denotes a state of 'wholeness' or 'completeness' in a project or a life path.
Etymologically, fulfil represents the act of making something 'full' or 'entire.' In literary usage, it often carries a weight of destiny or moral obligation. When a character fulfils their fate, it suggests a profound sense of inevitability and finality. It is a word that bridges the gap between mere task completion and the achievement of a higher purpose.
Word in 30 Seconds
- Fulfil means to complete or satisfy.
- It is used for promises, duties, and goals.
- Spelling varies between US and UK English.
- It implies a sense of success and wholeness.
Hey there! Let's talk about the word fulfil. At its heart, this verb is all about completion and satisfaction. Think of it as the bridge between a promise and the final result.
When you fulfil a duty, you are getting the job done. If you fulfil a requirement, you have checked all the boxes. It is a very positive word because it implies that expectations have been met.
Beyond just tasks, it also touches on our emotions. When someone says a job fulfils them, they mean it brings them joy and a sense of purpose. It is about reaching your potential!
The word fulfil has deep roots in Old English. It comes from the word fullfyllan, which literally means to 'fill full.' It is a combination of 'full' and 'fyllan' (to fill).
Over centuries, the spelling evolved from fulfyllan to fulfill (in American English) and fulfil (in British English). It reflects how we have always valued the idea of making something complete or whole.
It is related to the German word erfüllen, which carries the exact same meaning of filling up or satisfying. It is a classic example of how Germanic roots still shape our modern vocabulary today.
You will see fulfil used in both formal business settings and personal conversations. In a professional context, you might hear someone say, 'We must fulfil our contract obligations.' It sounds very official and reliable.
In a casual setting, you might say, 'This hobby really fulfils my need for creativity.' Here, it is about personal happiness. It is a versatile word that works well in almost any situation where something is being completed.
Common collocations include fulfil a promise, fulfil a dream, and fulfil a requirement. Using these combinations will make your English sound much more natural and precise.
While 'fulfil' is a direct verb, it appears in many contexts. 1. Fulfil one's potential: To reach the highest level of your ability. 2. Fulfil a lifelong dream: To finally achieve a goal you've had for years. 3. Fulfil the criteria: To meet specific rules for a job or school. 4. Fulfil a role: To successfully perform the duties of a position. 5. Fulfil a need: To provide what is lacking.
The verb fulfil is regular, but watch the spelling! In British English, we add an extra 'l' when adding suffixes: fulfilling, fulfilled. In American English, it is usually fulfill.
The IPA is /fʊlˈfɪl/. The stress is on the second syllable. It rhymes with words like distill, until, and skill. It is a transitive verb, meaning it usually takes an object, like 'fulfil a promise.'
Fun Fact
The word has been in English since before the year 1000.
Pronunciation Guide
Sounds like 'full' plus 'fill'.
Similar to UK, but often spelled 'fulfill'.
Common Errors
- Mispronouncing the second syllable
- Adding an extra sound at the end
- Stressing the first syllable
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Common word.
Spelling can be tricky.
Easy to pronounce.
Clear sound.
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Advanced
Grammar to Know
Transitive Verbs
He fulfilled the task.
Spelling rules for -ing
fulfilling
Future tense
I will fulfil it.
Examples by Level
I will fulfil my promise.
I will keep my word.
Future tense.
He fulfilled his duty.
She fulfilled the requirements.
They fulfilled the order.
I fulfilled my dream.
We fulfilled the goal.
He fulfilled the contract.
She fulfilled her promise.
Did you fulfil the task?
The candidate fulfilled all the criteria for the job.
This work does not fulfil my expectations.
He is trying to fulfil his potential as an artist.
The company failed to fulfil the delivery order.
She finally fulfilled her ambition to travel.
It is hard to fulfil every single request.
They worked hard to fulfil the conditions.
Does this course fulfil the graduation requirements?
The project failed to fulfil its initial promise.
He felt a deep need to fulfil his family obligations.
The agreement was fulfilled on time.
She finds that teaching helps her fulfil her desire to help others.
We must ensure we fulfil our legal responsibilities.
The actor fulfilled the role perfectly.
He struggled to fulfil the demands of his new position.
The charity aims to fulfil the needs of the community.
The new policy is designed to fulfil the requirements of the updated law.
He spent his life trying to fulfil a vision of social equality.
The performance fulfilled all the critics' high expectations.
She felt a sense of peace having fulfilled her promise to her mentor.
The data analysis fulfilled the research objectives.
It is rare to find a career that can fully fulfil one's creative spirit.
The treaty was fulfilled after years of negotiation.
He sought to fulfil his destiny as a leader.
The artist's final work served to fulfil the promise of her early sketches.
He felt that his life had been fulfilled by his commitment to service.
The prophecy was fulfilled in the most unexpected way.
She was driven by a need to fulfil her potential, regardless of the cost.
The architectural design fulfilled the client's vision of modern elegance.
The conditions were strictly fulfilled to avoid any legal dispute.
He found that his role as a father fulfilled him in ways he never imagined.
The symphony fulfilled the audience's hope for a grand finale.
Common Collocations
Idioms & Expressions
"fulfil one's destiny"
to reach the goal of one's life
He felt he had to fulfil his destiny.
literary"fulfil the letter of the law"
to do exactly what the rules say
They fulfilled the letter of the law but not the spirit.
formal"to be fulfilled"
to feel satisfied and happy
She feels fulfilled in her new job.
neutral"fulfil a wish"
to make a wish come true
The genie fulfilled his wish.
casual"fulfil the criteria"
to have the right qualifications
Do you fulfil the criteria for the grant?
formal"fulfil a contract"
to finish the work agreed upon
The builder must fulfil the contract.
formalEasily Confused
Similar sound
Fill is physical, fulfil is abstract.
Fill the cup vs fulfil the duty.
Similar meaning
Achieve is for goals, fulfil is for duties.
Achieve a goal vs fulfil a promise.
Similar meaning
Complete is neutral, fulfil is satisfying.
Complete the work vs fulfil the requirement.
Similar meaning
Satisfy is for hunger or needs.
Satisfy hunger vs fulfil expectation.
Sentence Patterns
Subject + fulfil + object
He fulfilled his task.
Subject + fulfil + object + with + noun
He fulfilled the role with grace.
It is + adj + to + fulfil + object
It is hard to fulfil this.
Subject + must + fulfil + object
We must fulfil our promise.
The purpose is to + fulfil + object
The goal is to fulfil the plan.
Word Family
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
Related
How to Use It
7/10
Formality Scale
Common Mistakes
It is spelled with one L at the start.
Fulfil implies completion, not just pouring liquid.
Ensure the object makes sense.
Double the L before adding -ing.
Fulfil is for abstract concepts, not physical containers.
Tips
When to use
Use it when expectations are met.
Spelling
Remember the double L in the middle for -ing.
History
It literally means to make full.
Collocations
Learn 'fulfil a promise' as one unit.
Avoid
Don't use it for pouring water.
Context
It sounds professional.
Sound
Stress the second syllable.
Trick
Think of a full bucket.
Writing
Use it in your goals list.
Register
Great for business emails.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Full + Fill = Fulfil. You are filling yourself with success.
Visual Association
A checklist where every box has a checkmark.
Word Web
Challenge
Write three things you want to fulfil this year.
Word Origin
Old English
Original meaning: To fill full
Cultural Context
None.
Commonly used in professional and self-help contexts.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
Work
- fulfil the contract
- fulfil the job description
- fulfil the deadline
Education
- fulfil the requirements
- fulfil the criteria
- fulfil the assignment
Personal
- fulfil a dream
- fulfil one's potential
- fulfil a promise
Legal
- fulfil the terms
- fulfil the obligation
- fulfil the law
Conversation Starters
"What is one dream you hope to fulfil?"
"Do you feel your current job helps you fulfil your potential?"
"Is it easy for you to fulfil all your promises?"
"What criteria must someone fulfil to be a good friend?"
"Have you ever failed to fulfil an important duty?"
Journal Prompts
Write about a time you fulfilled a promise.
What does it mean to be a 'fulfilled' person?
List three requirements you must fulfil this month.
Describe a goal you are working to fulfil.
Frequently Asked Questions
8 questionsFulfil is British, Fulfill is American.
No, use 'fill' for physical objects.
Yes, it follows regular conjugation rules.
Fulfilment (or fulfillment).
It can be both formal and informal.
Mostly, but it implies meeting a requirement or expectation.
No, we usually say 'satisfy the hunger'.
Yes, very often for contracts.
Test Yourself
I want to ___ my promise.
Fulfil is the correct verb for a promise.
Which means to complete a task?
Fulfil means to complete.
Can you fulfil a dream?
Yes, it is a common collocation.
Word
Meaning
These are synonyms.
Subject + verb + possessive + object.
Score: /5
Summary
To fulfil is to bring a promise or a goal to its successful completion.
- Fulfil means to complete or satisfy.
- It is used for promises, duties, and goals.
- Spelling varies between US and UK English.
- It implies a sense of success and wholeness.
When to use
Use it when expectations are met.
Spelling
Remember the double L in the middle for -ing.
History
It literally means to make full.
Collocations
Learn 'fulfil a promise' as one unit.
