Fulfil or Fulfill? Count the Ls Before You Cross the Atlantic
To fulfil is to carry out or satisfy something. Britain spells it with one l, America with two, and the endings differ again.
To fulfil a promise, a role or an order is to complete it as it should be completed. The spelling splits the English-speaking world: British *fulfil, fulfilled, fulfilment*; American *fulfill, fulfilled, fulfillment*. The middle form is the same, which catches people out.
- To carry out a duty or promise. *Fulfil an obligation.*
- To satisfy a requirement. *Fulfil the criteria.*
- To make someone feel complete. *The work fulfils her.*
- To complete an order. *Orders are fulfilled within a day.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Verb (UK) | fulfil | Fulfil the terms. |
| Verb (US) | fulfill | Fulfill the terms. |
| Past | fulfilled | Fulfilled early. |
| Noun (UK) | fulfilment | A sense of fulfilment. |
| Noun (US) | fulfillment | Order fulfillment. |
How it is used in a sentence
- She fulfilled every condition of the contract.Formal obligations.
- The job is not well paid but it is fulfilling.The emotional sense.
- Their fulfilment centre handles a million parcels a week.Retail logistics.
Fulfil, complete and satisfy
- Fulfil — carry out something promised or required
- Complete — finish something started
- Satisfy — meet a requirement or a desire
- Achieve — reach a goal through effort
- Self-fulfilling — a prediction that causes itself to come true
From Old English *fullfyllan*, to fill full. The word is one of the oldest compounds in English, and the doubled consonant in American spelling is closer to the original than the British single l.
Fulfil or fulfill?
Fulfil in British English, fulfill in American. Both write fulfilled and fulfilling with two l's in the middle.
What is a self-fulfilling prophecy?
A prediction that makes itself come true by changing how people behave, such as a rumour of a shortage causing a rush that empties the shelves.