Meaning & use
complements
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“complements” is a form of “complement”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
verbtransitive
Goes well with something so that each makes the other better or more complete.
Grammar: Takes an object: the wine complements the meal. This is the third person singular form.
Patterns
- something complements something
The blue scarf complements her gray coat.
His quiet manner complements her energetic style.
A light salad complements a rich main course.
nounplural
Things that go well together, each adding what the other lacks, or the full number needed to make a group complete.
Grammar: Plural of complement: the two skills are complements.
Patterns
- complements to something
- a full complement of something
Butter and bread are natural complements in many kitchens.
The ship sailed with its full complements of crew and supplies.
In grammar, verbs like 'be' need complements to complete their meaning.
Word forms
| base form | complement |
|---|---|
| past tense | complemented |
| -ing form | complementing |
Common combinations
- perfectly complements
- The sauce perfectly complements the fish.
- complements each other
- Their skills complement each other well.
- complements the decor
- The lamp complements the decor of the room.
- subject complements
- In 'She is happy', 'happy' is one of the subject complements.
- natural complements
- Cheese and fruit are natural complements.
Synonyms and how they differ
- completes
- Completes only says something is finished or whole, whereas complements stresses that two different things improve each other.
- suits
- Suits means something looks or works well for a person or situation, while complements describes a pairing between two things.
- enhances
- Enhances means to improve one thing, while complements involves a partner thing that supplies what is missing.
- matches
- Matches suggests similarity or equal quality, but complements often means something different that balances well.
Opposites
Word family
- complement noun
- something that completes or goes well with another thing
- complementary adjective
- going well together by adding what the other lacks
- complementarity noun
- the quality of being complementary
- complementation noun
- the way grammatical complements combine with words
Commonly confused: complements or compliments?
complements vs compliments
Compliments are kind or admiring remarks, as in 'She paid him two compliments'. Complements complete or improve something.
Practice
Choose the correct word: The red cushions ____ the green sofa beautifully.
Choose one answer.
Complements means goes well with and completes the look. Compliments would mean praises, which a sofa cannot receive in this grammar.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “complements”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.