complete
complete — verb
1. to add what is missing so that something has all the parts it should have
to add what is missing so that something has all the parts it should have
Aiko found the missing piece and completed the jigsaw puzzle.
collocation: complete a puzzle / set / collection
The artist spent three years completing her collection of landscape paintings.
One more stamp will complete Hiro's set of vintage postage stamps.
The final chapter completes the story by revealing how the hero escaped.
We need four new dining chairs to complete the furniture set.
- fill
focuses on adding content to an empty space rather than perfecting an existing whole
- round out
informal; suggests improving by adding variety
- supplement
more formal; adding extra material to improve something
- incomplete
the opposite state, missing parts
- lack
verb form showing absence of necessary parts
文法句型
complete + noun phrase (object)
用法筆記
Object is commonly a set, collection, or group that was missing something.
常見錯誤
2. to write or type all the information requested on a form, application, or other
to write or type all the information requested on a form, application, or other official document
Priya carefully completed the visa application form before the deadline.
collocation: complete a form / application
Please complete this short questionnaire about your shopping habits.
Diego completed the online registration form for the summer course.
You must complete all sections of the tax return by the end of January.
The nurse asked Leila to complete a medical history form before the check-up.
- leave blank
to skip a section on a form intentionally
文法句型
complete + noun phrase (form/application/document)
用法筆記
Frequently used in instructions and commands ('Complete the form below'). Object must be a document with blank spaces for information.
常見錯誤
3. to do all the work needed for a task or activity and reach its end point
to do all the work needed for a task or activity and reach its end point
The construction crew completed the new library ahead of schedule.
collocation: complete a project / building
Leila completed her degree in biology at the University of Oslo last spring.
Tomás completed the marathon in under four hours on his first try.
The research project will be completed by the end of this year.
Hana completed her chef training course and received a certificate this morning.
- abandon
to stop before reaching the end
- leave unfinished
to stop work before completion
文法句型
complete + noun phrase (task/course/degree/work)
常見錯誤
4. in American football, rugby, and similar team sports, to throw the ball so that
in American football, rugby, and similar team sports, to throw the ball so that a teammate catches it successfully
The quarterback completed a long pass to the wide receiver in the end zone.
collocation: complete a pass
Omar completed three consecutive passes during the final minute of the game.
The team could not complete a single pass in the heavy rain and wind.
Nadia completed a short pass to her teammate, who then scored a try.
- connect on
informal sports language; emphasizes successful reception
- incomplete
the official term for a pass that is not caught
文法句型
complete + a (pass / throw)
用法筆記
Used primarily for forward passes in American football. The object is almost always 'a pass' or a specific description of the throw.
常見錯誤
5. to finalize the legal transfer of a house, flat, or piece of land from one owner
to finalize the legal transfer of a house, flat, or piece of land from one owner to another
The Watanabe family completed on their new house last Wednesday morning.
intransitive: complete on [property]
We expect to complete the sale of our apartment by the end of March.
transitive: complete the sale
The buyers completed the purchase of the farm after the bank approved their loan.
Yara completed on her flat last Friday and received the keys the same afternoon.
The solicitor called to say the sale had completed on the old cottage.
- settle
used in US property contexts; more general legal term
- fall through
when a property sale fails before completion
文法句型
complete on + property (intransitive)
complete + sale/purchase (transitive)
用法筆記
Commonly used without an object in British English ('We completed last week'). The transitive form takes 'sale' or 'purchase' as the object, not the building itself.
常見錯誤
complete — adjective
1. used to emphasize that a quality or state exists to the highest possible degree,
used to emphasize that a quality or state exists to the highest possible degree, with nothing missing or reduced
The audience sat in complete silence during the final scene of the play.
intensifier collocation: complete silence
It was a complete surprise when Rohan walked through the door unannounced.
intensifier collocation: complete surprise
The storm caused complete destruction in the small coastal village.
Amara felt a complete sense of peace as she sat by the quiet lake.
The project was a complete disaster because no one checked the measurements.
- partial
only to some degree; not fully
文法句型
complete + abstract noun (silence/surprise/failure)
用法筆記
Used only before nouns (attributive position). Cannot be used predicatively (❌ 'The silence was complete' would mean 'finished,' not 'total').
常見錯誤
2. containing every needed part, item, or element so that nothing expected is missi
containing every needed part, item, or element so that nothing expected is missing
The museum has a complete collection of Ming dynasty pottery.
collocation: complete collection / set
Bao has a complete set of yoga equipment in his home studio.
The report is not complete without the financial data from last quarter.
We need a complete list of all the guests who will attend the wedding.
The library keeps a complete record of every book that has been borrowed.
- incomplete
missing some parts
- partial
only a part of the whole
文法句型
complete + noun phrase (set/list/collection)
用法筆記
Can be used both before nouns ('a complete set') and after linking verbs ('the set is complete').
常見錯誤
3. having reached a finished state with all work done and no further action require
having reached a finished state with all work done and no further action required
Once the roof is on, the house will be complete and ready for inspection.
predicative: be complete
The painting is almost complete; Camille just needs to add the sky.
When the bridge is complete, drivers will no longer need to take the ferry.
The renovation is now complete, and the Kim family can move back in next week.
Your order will be complete once all the items have been packed and shipped.
- incomplete
not finished; still needing work
- unfinished
not yet brought to an end
文法句型
be / become / get + complete
用法筆記
Only used after linking verbs (predicative position), never before a noun. Compare: 'The building is complete' (finished) vs 'a complete building' (having all parts).
常見錯誤
4. in American football, rugby, and similar sports, describing a throw of the ball
in American football, rugby, and similar sports, describing a throw of the ball that is caught by a teammate
The coach counted thirty-two complete passes in today's practice session.
sports terminology: complete pass
Kofi threw two complete passes before the halftime break.
The quarterback's performance improved after five complete passes in a row.
No complete passes were made in the first quarter due to the strong wind.
- caught
describes the same event from the receiver's perspective
- successful
general term; less specific to sports
- incomplete pass
the official term for a throw that no teammate catches
文法句型
complete + pass / throw / forward pass
用法筆記
Used only before the noun 'pass' (or specific types of pass). Never used predicatively in this sense.