verb

complete

kuhm-PLEET

verb

To finish something so that nothing more remains to be done.

"She completed the marathon in just under four hours."

"He completed the application form and submitted it online."

adj

Having every part; with nothing missing.

"The set of encyclopedias is complete, all twenty volumes."

Total or absolute, used for emphasis.

"The renovation was a complete disaster from start to finish."

How to Use Complete

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishFinished, whole, or total — with nothing left out or unfinished.

Common pairings

complete a task complete set utterly complete

Word Forms

more complete comparative, completer comparative, completed past tense, complete plural, completed plural, completes plural, completes singular, complete singular, completed singular, completest singular, completedst singular, completeth singular, most complete superlative, completest superlative

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Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

She _____ the marathon in just under four hours.

Etymology

From Latin completus, past participle of complere, "to fill up" — from com- plus plere ("to fill"), the same root as "replete" and "deplete."

Antonyms

incomplete

Related Words

full incomplete total

Rhymes for complete

fete mete Pete Crete delete secrete athlete compete machete concrete obsolete discrete

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