Fulfill vs. Fill — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Urooj Arif — Updated on May 6, 2024
Fulfill involves completing a requirement or reaching a goal, while fill refers to making something full or occupying space.
Difference Between Fulfill and Fill
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Fulfill is used when talking about meeting specific requirements, achieving goals, or satisfying conditions, such as fulfilling a promise or an obligation. On the other hand, fill typically refers to the act of adding a substance to an object or space until it is complete, like filling a glass with water or a hole with dirt.
Fulfill often carries a sense of completion or finality, implying that something has been brought to an end by meeting all necessary criteria. Whereas fill implies adding to something until there is no more room, often without the connotation of a final objective beyond capacity.
Fulfill is also used in a metaphorical sense to indicate satisfying life ambitions or emotional needs, such as fulfilling one's potential. Conversely, fill can be used metaphorically to describe feelings or qualities taking up space within one's self, like joy filling one's heart.
Fulfill can also imply performing duties or responsibilities to a required standard, crucial in professional or formal contexts. Fill, however, generally does not carry implications about quality or standards, focusing more on quantity or presence.
Comparison Chart
Primary Usage
Achieving or completing
Making full
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Context
Goals, promises, requirements
Containers, spaces, quantities
Connotation
Completion, satisfaction
Capacity, volume
Metaphorical Usage
Emotional or life achievements
Emotions filling a space
Implication in Context
Standards, quality
Presence, quantity
Compare with Definitions
Fulfill
To meet or satisfy a condition.
He fulfilled the criteria for the scholarship.
Fill
To plug or block a hole.
He filled the gap with putty.
Fulfill
To realize or achieve (a dream or ambition).
She fulfilled her dream of becoming a pilot.
Fill
To occupy space.
The couch filled the small room.
Fulfill
To bring to completion.
He fulfilled his promise to return the book.
Fill
To become full.
The room filled quickly with guests.
Fulfill
To carry out a duty or role as required.
She fulfilled her role as a facilitator.
Fill
To make full.
She filled the glass with water.
Fulfill
To satisfy a need or desire.
The new job fulfilled his need for a challenge.
Fill
To provide a required element.
She filled the role of treasurer at the meeting.
Fulfill
To bring into actuality; effect or make real
Fulfilled their promises.
Fulfilled her dream.
Fill
To put something into (a container, for example) to capacity or to a desired level
Fill a glass with milk.
Filled the tub with water.
Fulfill
To do, perform, or obey (a task or order, for example); carry out.
Fill
To supply or provide to the fullest extent
Filled the mall with new stores.
Fulfill
To meet (a requirement or condition); satisfy.
Fill
To build up the level of (low-lying land) with material such as earth or gravel.
Fulfill
To satisfy, carry out, bring to completion (an obligation, a requirement, etc.).
You made a promise, son, and now you must fulfill it.
Fill
To stop or plug up (an opening, for example).
Fulfill
To emotionally or artistically satisfy; to develop one's gifts to the fullest.
This is the most fulfilling work I've ever done.
Fill
To repair a cavity of (a tooth).
Fulfill
To obey, follow, comply with (a rule, requirement etc.).
Unfortunately, you don't fulfill the criteria for extra grants at the present time.
Fill
To add a foreign substance to (cloth or wood, for example).
Fulfill
(business) To package, distribute, or ship goods.
Fill
To flow or move into (a container or area), often to capacity
Water is filling the basement. Fans are filling the stadium.
Fulfill
(archaic) To fill full; fill to the utmost capacity; fill up.
My lady is positively fulfilled of grace.
Fill
To pervade
Music filled the room.
Fulfill
To fill up; to make full or complete.
Suffer thou that the children be fulfilled first, for it is not good to take the bread of children and give to hounds.
Fill
To satiate, as with food and drink
The guests filled themselves with pie.
Fulfill
To accomplish or carry into effect, as an intention, promise, or prophecy, a desire, prayer, or requirement, etc.; to complete by performance; to answer the requisitions of; to bring to pass, as a purpose or design; to effectuate.
He will, fulfill the desire of them fear him.
Here Nature seems fulfilled in all her ends.
Servants must their masters' minds fulfill.
Fill
To engage or occupy completely
A song that filled me with nostalgia.
Fulfill
Put in effect;
Carry out a task
Execute the decision of the people
He actioned the operation
Fill
To satisfy or meet; fulfill
Fill the requirements.
Fulfill
Fulfil the requirements or expectations of
Fill
To supply what is specified by or required for
Fill a prescription.
Fill an order.
Fulfill
Fill or meet a want or need
Fill
To put a person into (a job or position)
We filled the job with a new hire.
Fill
To discharge the duties of; occupy
How long has she filled that post?.
Fill
To cover the surface of (an inexpensive metal) with a layer of precious metal, such as gold.
Fill
To cause (a sail) to swell.
Fill
To adjust (a yard) so that wind will cause a sail to swell.
Fill
To become full
The basement is filling with water.
Fill
An amount needed to make full, complete, or satisfied
Eat one's fill.
Fill
Material for filling a container, cavity, or passage.
Fill
A built-up piece of land; an embankment.
Fill
The material, such as earth or gravel, used for this.
Fill
(transitive) To occupy fully, to take up all of.
Fill
(transitive) To add contents to (a container, cavity, or the like) so that it is full.
Fill
To enter (something), making it full.
Fill
(intransitive) To become full.
The bucket filled with rain;
The sails fill with wind
Fill
(intransitive) To become pervaded with something.
My heart filled with joy.
Fill
(transitive) To satisfy or obey (an order, request, or requirement).
The pharmacist filled my prescription for penicillin.
We can't let the library close! It fills a great need in the community.
Fill
(transitive) To install someone, or be installed, in (a position or office), eliminating a vacancy.
Sorry, no more applicants. The position has been filled.
Fill
(transitive) To treat (a tooth) by adding a dental filling to it.
Dr. Smith filled Jim's cavity with silver amalgam.
Fill
(transitive) To fill or supply fully with food; to feed; to satisfy.
Fill
To trim (a yard) so that the wind blows on the after side of the sails.
Fill
(after a possessive) A sufficient or more than sufficient amount.
Don't feed him any more: he's had his fill.
Fill
An amount that fills a container.
The mixer returned to the plant for another fill.
Fill
The filling of a container or area.
That machine can do 20 fills a minute.
This paint program supports lines, circles, and textured fills.
Fill
Inexpensive material used to occupy empty spaces, especially in construction.
The ruins of earlier buildings were used as fill for more recent construction.
Fill
(archaeology) Soil and/or human-created debris discovered within a cavity or cut in the layers and exposed by excavation; fill soil.
Fill
An embankment, as in railroad construction, to fill a hollow or ravine; also, the place which is to be filled.
Fill
(music) A short passage, riff, or rhythmic sound that helps to keep the listener's attention during a break between the phrases of a melody.
Bass fill
Fill
One of the thills or shafts of a carriage.
Fill
One of the thills or shafts of a carriage.
Fill
A full supply, as much as supplies want; as much as gives complete satisfaction.
I'll bear thee hence, where I may weep my fill.
Fill
That which fills; filling; filler; specif., an embankment, as in railroad construction, to fill a hollow or ravine; also, the place which is to be filled.
Fill
To make full; to supply with as much as can be held or contained; to put or pour into, till no more can be received; to occupy the whole capacity of.
The rain also filleth the pools.
Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. Anf they filled them up to the brim.
Fill
To furnish an abudant supply to; to furnish with as mush as is desired or desirable; to occupy the whole of; to swarm in or overrun.
And God blessed them, saying. Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas.
The Syrians filled the country.
Fill
To fill or supply fully with food; to feed; to satisfy.
Whence should we have so much bread in the wilderness, as to fillso great a multitude?
Things that are sweet and fat are more filling.
Fill
To possess and perform the duties of; to officiate in, as an incumbent; to occupy; to hold; as, a king fills a throne; the president fills the office of chief magistrate; the speaker of the House fills the chair.
Fill
To supply with an incumbent; as, to fill an office or a vacancy.
Fill
To press and dilate, as a sail; as, the wind filled the sails.
Fill
To make an embankment in, or raise the level of (a low place), with earth or gravel.
Fill
To become full; to have the whole capacity occupied; to have an abundant supply; to be satiated; as, corn fills well in a warm season; the sail fills with the wind.
Fill
To fill a cup or glass for drinking.
Give me some wine; fill full.
Fill
A quantity sufficient to satisfy;
He ate his fill of potatoes
She had heard her fill of gossip
Fill
Any material that fills a space or container;
There was not enough fill for the trench
Fill
Make full, also in a metaphorical sense;
Fill a container
Fill the child with pride
Fill
Become full;
The pool slowly filled with water
The theater filled up slowly
Fill
Occupy the whole of;
The liquid fills the container
Fill
Assume, as of positions or roles;
She took the job as director of development
Fill
Fill or meet a want or need
Fill
Appoint someone to (a position or a job)
Fill
Eat until one is sated;
He filled up on turkey
Fill
Fill to satisfaction;
I am sated
Fill
Plug with a substance;
Fill a cavity
Common Curiosities
What does it mean to fulfill a requirement?
To fulfill a requirement means to meet the conditions necessary for something.
How does fulfill relate to personal goals?
Fulfill is often used regarding achieving personal ambitions, like fulfilling a lifelong goal.
Can fill be used in a non-physical sense?
Yes, fill can be used metaphorically, such as emotions filling one's heart.
What is a common context for using fulfill?
Fulfill is commonly used in contexts involving obligations or promises.
How is fill different from fulfill when used metaphorically?
Fill when used metaphorically usually refers to qualities or emotions occupying a space, while fulfill implies achieving or completing something meaningful.
Is fill always tangible?
No, fill can also refer to intangible concepts like filling time with activities.
Is fulfill always about completion?
Yes, fulfill generally involves a sense of completing or perfectly meeting requirements.
Can fulfill have a legal connotation?
Yes, fulfill can be used in legal contexts to indicate fulfilling terms of a contract.
What scenarios typically use the verb fill?
Scenarios involving increasing volume or covering space, like filling a tank with water.
What does it mean to fill a role?
To fill a role means to serve the function required by that position.
Can fill and fulfill be used interchangeably?
Generally, no, because they relate to different aspects of adding to versus completing.
What is a simple way to distinguish fulfill from fill?
Fulfill is about meeting specific criteria or completing tasks, while fill is about occupying space or adding content.
How is the usage of fill perceived in casual speech?
In casual speech, fill is often related to adding quantity or occupying space.
What emotional implications does fulfill have?
Fulfill can imply deep satisfaction or joy derived from accomplishing something significant.
Does fulfill imply success?
Yes, fulfilling something often carries a connotation of success in meeting set criteria.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
