Meaning & use
complete
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Meanings
adjectivebefore a noun
Including every part or member; whole rather than partial.
Grammar: Before nouns: a complete list, complete silence; not usually more complete in careful writing.
Patterns
- a complete set
- complete silence
- a complete lack of something
Please bring a complete list of guests.
The storm left the village in complete darkness.
His reply showed a complete lack of interest.
adjectiveafter a verb
Finished, with nothing missing and no more work needed.
Grammar: Usually follows be, seem, or become: The report is complete.
Patterns
- be complete
- become complete
- seem complete
The online application is complete.
When the final shelf is complete, we can unpack the books.
Her recovery is not yet complete, but she is walking again.
verbtransitive
To finish making, doing, or filling in something.
Grammar: Takes an object: complete the form; commonly used with forms, projects, courses, and tasks.
Patterns
- complete a form
- complete a course
- complete work
Complete the form before the interview.
She completed the course in six weeks.
The builders completed the bridge ahead of schedule.
Word forms
| third person singular | completes |
|---|---|
| past tense | completed |
| past participle | completed |
| -ing form | completing |
Common combinations
- complete set
- We finally bought a complete set of pans.
- complete silence
- There was complete silence after the announcement.
- a complete lack of something
- The plan showed a complete lack of preparation.
- complete the form
- Remember to complete the form in black ink.
- complete a degree
- He completed a degree while working nights.
Synonyms and how they differ
- entire
- Entire means whole and usually comes before a noun; complete can be broader and can follow be.
- whole
- Whole often fits singular countable nouns; complete emphasizes that no part is missing.
- finish
- Finish is a verb for ending an action; complete is more formal and suggests doing all required parts.
- total
- Total stresses the full amount added together; complete stresses nothing missing or unfinished.
Opposites
Word family
- completion noun
- The act or state of finishing something.
- completely adverb
- Totally or in every way.
- completeness noun
- The state of having all necessary parts.
- incomplete adjective
- Not finished or missing parts.
Commonly confused: complete or completed?
complete vs completed
Completed is the past form of the verb or a finished state; complete can be an adjective meaning whole or an imperative verb: Complete page two.
Practice
Choose the best instruction.
Choose one answer.
After please, use the base verb complete. Completed and completing do not fit an imperative here, and option 4 needs the before the singular countable noun application.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “complete”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.