autocomplete

IPA/ˈɔːtəʊkəmpliːt/
IPA/ˈɔːtəʊkəmpliːt/

autocomplete — noun

1. A software feature built into many programs that guesses the word, address, or p

1.nounB1
Definition

A software feature built into many programs that guesses the word, address, or phrase a person is typing and automatically inserts the remaining part after only the first few characters are entered.

Example

The autocomplete on Zara's phone suggested the full word after she typed just three letters.

autocomplete on Zara's phone suggested

When Lucas began typing his address in the checkout form, autocomplete filled in the rest.

autocomplete filled in the rest

Common collocations
  • autocomplete suggests / predicts / fills in / completes
  • turn off / disable / enable / use autocomplete
  • browser's / phone's / keyboard's / search engine's autocomplete
  • rely on autocomplete
  • autocomplete feature / function
Synonyms
  • predictive text

    A broader term that includes autocomplete plus other keyboard prediction features

  • auto-suggest

    Shows a list of options the user can choose from rather than automatically inserting text

  • auto-fill

    Fills in entire form fields using stored data, not based on the characters being typed

Usage Note

Autocomplete is uncountable and used in singular form. It often appears with a possessive modifier (the browser's autocomplete) or after a preposition (rely on autocomplete).

Common Mistakes

The autocomplete corrected my spelling mistake.
The autocorrect fixed my spelling mistake.
'autocomplete' predicts and fills in characters as you type; 'autocorrect' fixes errors after you finish a word.

Word family

  • autocompletion
    nounC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

While all three help users input text faster, 'autocomplete' specifically inserts the remainder of a word or phrase as the user types. 'Predictive text' is the broader category that includes autocomplete along with next-word prediction and spelling correction features found on smartphone keyboards. 'Auto-suggest' presents a dropdown of possible matches that the user must select manually — it does not insert text automatically. 'Auto-fill' typically fills in saved personal information (address, credit card) across web forms rather than completing text based on typed characters. For example, typing 'cof' in a search bar might trigger 'autocomplete' to insert 'coffee shop near me,' while 'auto-suggest' would show a list of search terms starting with 'cof' for you to pick.

predictive textauto-suggestauto-fill

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • rely on autocomplete
  • turn off autocomplete
  • autocomplete feature
  • browser autocomplete

Prepositions

Etymology

GreekLatinEnglish

The word 'autocomplete' is a blend of 'auto-' (from Greek 'autos', meaning 'self') and 'complete' (from Latin 'complere', meaning 'to fill up'). It began appearing in computing contexts in the 1980s and 1990s as text-entry software started offering to finish words for the user. The concept traces back to early command-line interfaces that would expand abbreviated commands, but the word itself became common with the rise of web browsers and smartphone keyboards in the early 2000s.