fulfil

/fʊlˈfɪl/ (bre, ipa) · /fʊlˈfɪl/ (ame, ipa)

fulfil — verb

  • fulfilpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • fulfilshe / she / it
  • fulfillshe / she / it
  • fulfilledpast simple
  • fulfilling-ing form
  • fulfills3rd person singular

1. to carry through and complete a promise, duty, requirement, role, or hoped-for p

1.動詞及物B2
釋義

to carry through and complete a promise, duty, requirement, role, or hoped-for plan, so that what was supposed to happen actually happens.

例句

Layla fulfilled her promise to call her grandmother every Sunday morning.

fulfil + a promise (canonical pattern)

By winning the regional final, Liang fulfilled the dream he'd had since he was eight.

fulfil + a dream / ambition

同義詞
  • carry out

    everyday phrasal verb; less formal than 'fulfil'

  • meet

    common with conditions and requirements; lighter and shorter

  • achieve

    stresses the success at the end, not the act of completion

反義詞
  • break

    with a promise: 'break a promise' = the opposite of fulfilling it

  • neglect

    with a duty: failing to do what was required

文法句型

fulfil + a promise / duty / role / requirement / dream

用法筆記

Most common with abstract objects: promises, ambitions, conditions, criteria, duties, roles. Spelt 'fulfill' in American English; the past forms are 'fulfilled / fulfilling' in both varieties.

常見錯誤

❌I fulfilled my coffee this morning.
✅I finished my coffee this morning.
💡'fulfil' takes abstract objects (a promise, a duty), not physical things.
❌The company fulfiled the order.
✅The company fulfilled the order.
💡keep the double 'l' before -ed and -ing in both BrE and AmE.

2. to give a person a deep sense of being content and useful in life, usually becau

2.動詞及物C1
釋義

to give a person a deep sense of being content and useful in life, usually because their work, role, or relationships line up with their abilities, values, or hopes.

例句

Teaching young children fulfils Stephanie in a way that office work never did.

fulfil + somebody (active, with subject = activity)

Imran left a high-paying job because the work simply didn't fulfil him anymore.

negative form of personal-fulfilment sense

同義詞
  • satisfy

    broader; can describe small daily satisfactions, not only deep life-meaning

  • gratify

    more formal; often used for short-term pleasure

  • complete

    informal personal-relationship usage: 'You complete me'

反義詞
  • disappoint

    fail to give the expected positive feeling

  • frustrate

    block the person from feeling content

文法句型

fulfil + somebody

feel fulfilled (passive/adjectival)

用法筆記

Often appears as the passive/adjectival 'feel fulfilled' or 'be fulfilled by something' rather than active 'X fulfils me'. Subject is typically an activity, role, or relationship — not a person directly.

常見錯誤

❌I want to fulfil happy.
✅I want to feel fulfilled.
💡use the passive/adjectival form for the personal-content meaning.