Complete — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective verb /kəm-ˈplēt/ com·plete

Meaning & Definition of Complete

Complete (adjective)

  1. having all necessary parts, elements, or steps
  2. containing all essential amino acids
  3. total, absolute

Complete (verb)

  1. to bring to an end and especially into a perfected state
  2. to make whole or perfect
  3. to mark the end of

Complete (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to bring (something) to a state where nothing remains to be done

    "managed to complete the assignment with time to spare"

    similar: consummate, finalize, finish, perfect, polish, get through
    related: follow through (with), stick out, accomplish, achieve, effect, carry out, carry through, discharge, do, execute, fulfill, perform, ameliorate, amend, better, enhance, enrich, improve, meliorate, machine, refine, round (off or out), shine, touch up
    near: abandon, desert, discontinue, drop, forsake, quit

  2. to serve as a completing element to

    "the bird's beautiful song simply completes its appeal for pet owners"

    similar: complement, round (off or out)
    related: finish (off), flesh (out), adorn, beautify, decorate, embellish, better, enhance, improve, constitute, form, make up, enrich, perfect

  3. to bring (an event) to a natural or appropriate stopping point

    "the well-attended concert completed a great weekend of arts and entertainment events"

    similar: close, close out, conclude, end, finish, round (off or out), terminate, wind up, wrap up, put paid to (chiefly British), ring down the curtain (on)
    related: climax, crown, consummate, perfect, halt, stop, suspend
    opposite: begin, commence, inaugurate, open, start

  4. to do what is required by the terms of

    "no payments will be made until the contract is completed"

    similar: answer, comply (with), fill, fulfill, keep, meet, redeem, satisfy, abide by, make good
    related: conclude, consummate, finalize, finish, perfect, accomplish, achieve, bring about, bring off, carry out, effect, commit, compass, discharge, execute, follow through (with), make, perform
    opposite: breach, break, transgress, violate
    near: default (on), disregard, forget, ignore, neglect, overlook, overpass, pass over, slight

Complete (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. not lacking any part or member that properly belongs to it

    "a complete deck of cards"

    similar: compleat, comprehensive, entire, full, grand, intact, integral, perfect, plenary, total, whole
    related: unabridged, uncut, undiminished, all-out, exhaustive, extensive, maximal, full-blooded, full-blown, full-bore, full-fledged, full-on, full-out, full-scale
    opposite: imperfect, incomplete, partial
    near: abbreviated, abridged, cut, diminished, reduced

  2. brought or having come to an end

    "your education is never complete—there's always something more to learn"

    similar: completed, concluded, done, down, ended, finished, over, over with, terminated, through, up, out of hand, out of the way
    related: accomplished, achieved, attained, compassed, realized, dead, defunct, extinct, kaput, obsolete, expired
    opposite: continuing, incomplete, ongoing, uncompleted, undone, unfinished

  3. covering everything or all important points

    "will present complete coverage of the tennis tournament"

    similar: all-embracing, all-in (chiefly British), all-inclusive, broad-gauge, compendious, comprehensive, cover-all, cyclopedic, embracive, encyclopedic, exhaustive, full, global, in-depth, inclusive, omnibus, panoramic, thorough, universal
    related: broad, catholic, encyclical, general, inclusionary, overall, cosmic, extensive, far, far-reaching, grand, large, panoptic, sweeping, vast, wide, wide-ranging, blanket, indiscriminate, unrestricted
    near: circumscribed, limited, narrow, restricted, specialized, exact, precise, individual, singular, specific, incomplete, patchy, sketchy

  4. having no exceptions or restrictions

    "he's a complete genius"

    similar: absolute, all-out, arrant, blank, blooming (chiefly British), bodacious (Southern & Midland), categorical, clean, consummate, crashing, damn, damned, dead, deadly, definite, downright, dreadful, fair, flat, flat-out, out-and-out, outright, perfect, plumb, profound, pure, rank, regular, sheer, simple, stark, stone, straight-out, thorough, thoroughgoing, total, unadulterated, unalloyed, unconditional, unmitigated, unqualified, utter, very
    related: authentic, classic, genuine, real, veritable, constant, endless, eternal, perpetual, undying, unremitting, extreme, unrestricted, confirmed, habitual, hopeless, inveterate, extraordinary, frightful, horrible, huge, main, superlative, supreme, surpassing, terrible, terrific
    near: doubtful, dubious, equivocal, qualified, questionable, restricted, uncertain

  5. trying all possibilities

    "a complete search of the computer file"

    similar: all-out, clean, comprehensive, exhaustive, full-scale, out-and-out, thorough, thoroughgoing, total
    related: broad, extensive, far-reaching, in-depth, sweeping, wide, wide-ranging, general, global, inclusive, methodical, systematic, no-holds-barred, unhampered, unrestrained
    near: aimless, desultory, haphazard, hit-or-miss, random, cursory, shallow, slipshod, superficial, limited, narrow, restricted

  6. having or showing exceptional knowledge, experience, or skill in a field of endeavor

    "a riding school that will teach you all skills required of the complete equestrian"

    similar: accomplished, ace, adept, compleat, consummate, crack, crackerjack, educated, experienced, expert, good, great, master, masterful, masterly, practiced, professed, proficient, skilled, skillful, versed, veteran, virtuoso
    related: adroit, clever, deft, dexterous, handy, slick, sure-handed, gifted, talented, polished, refined, effective, effectual, efficient, workmanlike, able, capable, competent, employable, fit, fitted, habile, qualified, knowledgeable, schooled, taught, trained, tutored, all-around, well-rounded, long-term, old, multiskilled, multitalented
    opposite: amateur, amateurish, inexperienced, inexpert, jackleg, unprofessional, unseasoned, unskilled, unskillful
    near: incapable, incompetent, inept, unable, unfit, unfitted, unqualified, weak, artless, crude, rude, ineffective, ineffectual, inefficient, talentless, ungifted, untalented, ignorant, unschooled, untaught, untrained, untutored, beginning, green, inexperienced, new, raw, unseasoned, untested, untried, would-be, primitive, rough, unpolished, awkward, clumsy, ham-fisted, ham-handed, heavy-handed

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Complete

The most common words with a similar meaning to Complete:

Chiefly British: put paid to, all-in, blooming
Southern & Midland: bodacious
consummate, finalize, finish, perfect, polish, complement, round (off or out), close, close out, conclude, end, terminate, wind up, wrap up, answer, comply (with), fill, fulfill, keep, meet, redeem, satisfy, get through, ring down the curtain (on), abide by, make good, compleat, comprehensive, entire, full, grand, intact, integral, plenary, total, whole, completed, concluded, done, down

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Complete

Words with the opposite meaning of Complete:

begin, commence, inaugurate, open, start, breach, break, transgress, violate, imperfect, incomplete, partial, continuing, ongoing, uncompleted, undone, unfinished, amateur, amateurish, inexperienced, inexpert, jackleg, unprofessional, unseasoned, unskilled, unskillful

Related Words for Complete

follow through (with), stick out, accomplish, achieve, effect, carry out, carry through, discharge, do, execute, perform, ameliorate, amend, better, enhance, enrich, improve, meliorate, machine, refine, shine, touch up, finish (off), flesh (out), adorn, beautify, decorate, embellish, constitute, form

Near Antonyms of Complete

abandon, desert, discontinue, drop, forsake, quit, default (on), disregard, forget, ignore, neglect, overlook, overpass, pass over, slight, abbreviated, abridged, cut, diminished, reduced, circumscribed, limited, narrow, restricted, specialized, exact, precise, individual, singular, specific

Word Forms of Complete

Inflections: completer, completest, completed, completing

Derived words: completely (adverb), completeness (noun), completive (adjective)

Origin & Etymology of Complete

Middle English complet, compleet, complete, borrowed from Middle French & Latin; Middle French complet, borrowed from Latin complētus, past participle of complēre "to fill, make up, carry to completion," from com- com- + plēre "to fill" full:1

First known use: 14th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Complete

  • Topics: Common Actions / Verbs

Words & Phrases Containing Complete

complete fertilizer, complete with, complete and utter, auto-complete, come as a (complete/total) surprise, make a complete/full recovery, undivided/full/complete attention

Frequently Asked Questions about Complete

What does "Complete" mean?

"Complete" means having all necessary parts, elements, or steps. As an an adjective and a verb, it is defined as: having all necessary parts, elements, or steps. It has 10 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Complete"?

Other words for "Complete" include consummate, finalize, finish, perfect, polish, complement, round (off or out) and close. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Complete" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Complete"?

There are 272 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Complete". Common alternatives include consummate, finalize, finish, perfect, polish, complement, round (off or out), close, close out and conclude.

What is the opposite of "Complete"?

Antonyms of "Complete" include begin, commence, inaugurate, open, start, breach, break and transgress. Near antonyms include abandon, desert, discontinue and drop.

How do you use "Complete" in a sentence?

Examples of "Complete" in a sentence: "managed to complete the assignment with time to spare"; "the bird's beautiful song simply completes its appeal for pet owners"; "the well-attended concert completed a great weekend of arts and entertainment events".

Is "Complete" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Complete" can be used as an adjective and a verb, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Complete"?

"Complete" is pronounced /kəm-ˈplēt/ and divided into syllables as com·plete.

What is the origin of the word "Complete"?

"Complete" comes from Middle English complet, compleet, complete, borrowed from Middle French & Latin; Middle French complet, borrowed from Latin complētus, past participle of complēre "to fill, make up, carry to completion," from com- com- + plēre "to fill" full:1. First known use: 14th century.