fulfil

 
Pronunciation: /fʊlˈfɪl/
(US fulfill)

verb (fulfils, fulfilling, fulfilled)

  • 1achieve or realize (something desired, promised, or predicted): he wouldn’t be able to fulfil his ambition to visit Naples
  • (fulfil oneself) gain happiness or satisfaction by achieving one’s potential: arts grants go to young people who say they wish to fulfil themselves
  • archaic complete (a period of time or piece of work): friends whose ill-timed speed fulfilled my soon-repented deed
  • 2carry out (a duty or role) as required, promised, or expected: some officials were dismissed because they could not fulfil their duties
  • satisfy or meet (a requirement, condition, or need): goods must fulfil three basic conditions

Derivatives

fulfillable

adjective

fulfiller

noun

Origin:

late Old English fullfyllan 'fill up, make full' (see full1, fill)

Spelling help

Spell fulfil with one l in the middle and one at the end (the spelling fulfill is American).

Spelling rule

Double the l when adding endings which begin with a vowel to words which end in a vowel plus l (as in travel): (fulfils, fulfilling, fulfilled).