to put something into an empty space or container until no more can be added
She filled the glass with water until it overflowed.
The attendant fills the car's tank at the gas station every morning.
✦ Old English ‘fyllan’, from Germanic roots meaning ‘to make full’.
to become full
The theatre quickly filled as the lights dimmed.
Her eyes filled with tears when she heard the news.
✦ Same origin as transitive form, from Old English ‘fyllan’.
to occupy space, time, or a role completely
Soft music fills the house during the holidays.
She was chosen to fill the vacant chair on the board.
✦ Extended sense of occupying space developed in Middle English.
to do or achieve something that has been planned, promised, expected, or hoped for.
She fulfilled her dream of becoming a pilot.
The software update fulfilled all our requirements.
✦ From Middle English fulfulen, fulfi llen (“to fill up, complete”), from Old English fullfyllan, from full (“full”) + fyllan (“to fill”); equivalent to full + fill.
to do or achieve something that you promised, expected, hoped for, or needed to do
"I promise to fulfill all my duties as captain," the young man told his team.
The new policy will fulfill the needs of working parents.
✦ From Middle English fulfyllen, from Old English fulfyllan ("to fill up, complete"), a compound of full + fyllan ("to fill").
"I promise to fulfil all my duties as captain," the young man told his team.
The new policy will fulfil the needs of working parents.
