Complete meaning in English
Learn how to use Complete correctly with Gymglish.
Test and improve your English. Start your free trial today.
TEST YOUR ENGLISH
Free trial and no commitment to buy
4,7 on App Store, Play Store and Trustpilot
More than 8 million learners worldwide
Definition
to complete: to finish, to terminate, to conclude
complete: total, whole, entire; finished
completely: totally, entirely, fully
Examples
- "Industrial Fruit Concern Inc. has stated that if they acquire the juice business, they plan to completely change the company culture and business model, create hundreds of soulless storefronts across the world, and pretty much ruin everything that made it unique."
- ""Anti-English" graffiti has started to appear in the men's restroom. I won't go into details, but the slogans are shocking and completely inappropriate in a modern multicultural working environment."
- "Deadline: to be completed in 3 months."
- "Susie : The store is on Oxford Street, and offers a completely new, vibrant shopping experience."
- "Susie : So, what will you need from us to complete this project?"
- "When I was a perfumer in Paris, I completed all my tasks with a dance and song."
- "Bruno : You have six hours to complete your mission!"
- "Or do you want me to complete the form using my own blood – get it?"
- "Dr. Loblaw : I'm completely serious, Brian."
- "Please complete it."
- "To join MyFace, please complete the registration data by filling in all the fields found below."
- "You're completely naked-"
- "If you want a completely different view on management, I'm sure you won't be disappointed!"
- "Philip : Before completing my mission, I have but one remaining task... to take a look at the contents of said microfiche!"
- "THX-1134 : Sale completed."
- "Brent : So listeners, I am now inside the party: the first stage of my mission is complete."
- "Scientists won't shut up about how valuable it is to replenish your energy with a complete sleep cycle."
- "This is completely normal."
Exercise 1
'She's the one that spearheaded our latest environmental initiatives'.
Which could best replace spearheaded in Bruno's sentence?
Which could best replace spearheaded in Bruno's sentence?
'She's the one that spearheaded our latest environmental initiatives'.
Which could best replace spearheaded in Bruno's sentence?
Which could best replace spearheaded in Bruno's sentence?
This is incorrect. The term 'to inspire' shares a similar meaning with 'to give an idea' or 'to motivate'. To say that someone 'spearheaded' a campaign doesn't necessarily indicate that they 'inspired' or 'started' it, only that they 'led' or 'guided' it. Example: 'The visit I made to Provence inspired me to write a novel'. This is not the same meaning as the term 'to spearhead'.
This is incorrect. The term 'to complete' shares a similar meaning with 'to finish'. Example: 'I completed the project a week ahead of schedule'. This is not the same meaning as the term 'to spearhead'.
This is the best choice here. The term 'to spearhead' shares a similar meaning with 'to lead' or 'to initiate'. It is used to describe the 'driving force' behind an event. Example: 'Tony Bear spearheaded the recent reforms to the British education system'.
This is incorrect. The term 'to finance' means 'to fund' or 'to pay for'. Example: 'The new building was financed by a philanthropist named Phileas Frogg'. This is not the same meaning as the term 'to spearhead'.
This is incorrect. The term 'to skewer' means 'to pierce' or 'to impale'. Example: 'We skewered the Philistines and put their heads on pikes'. This is not the same meaning as the term 'to spearhead'.
Exercise 2
Find the best synonyms of the terms in bold.
The record turnover is mainly due to an aggressive discount policy implemented by Delavigne's Head of Sales, Philip Cheeter.
--> The turnover is due to an aggressive discount policy by Delavigne's Head of Sales, Philip Cheeter.
The record turnover is mainly due to an aggressive discount policy implemented by Delavigne's Head of Sales, Philip Cheeter.
--> The turnover is due to an aggressive discount policy by Delavigne's Head of Sales, Philip Cheeter.
Find the best synonyms of the terms in bold.
The record turnover is mainly due to an aggressive discount policy implemented by Delavigne's Head of Sales, Philip Cheeter.
--> The best ever 1 turnover is primarily 2 due to an aggressive discount policy put into place 3 by Delavigne's Head of Sales, Philip Cheeter.
The record turnover is mainly due to an aggressive discount policy implemented by Delavigne's Head of Sales, Philip Cheeter.
--> The best ever 1 turnover is primarily 2 due to an aggressive discount policy put into place 3 by Delavigne's Head of Sales, Philip Cheeter.
1 best ever: This is correct. A "record" is the best result or the highest or lowest level that has ever been reached. It is often used to describe unsurpassed measurements in sports. Examples: I currently hold the world RECORD for running 100m OR Last August was the hottest month on RECORD. Therefore, a "record turnover" is the highest turnover ever recorded. The "turnover" is the total amount of goods or services sold by a company during a particular period of time.
1 controversial : This is incorrect. If something is "controversial", it causes disagreement and public debate. Example: The government has taken the CONTROVERSIAL decision to stop taxing English Teachers. The term "controversial" is not a synonym of "record".
1 unexpected: This is incorrect. If something is "unexpected", it is not expected - it is a surprise because you didn't think it would happen. Example: We received an UNEXPECTED visit from the Queen. The term "unexpected" is not a synonym of "record".
2 primarily: This is correct. If you "mainly" (eat fish and vegetables), then you (eat fish and vegetables) more than any other (food). The term "mainly" is a close synonym of "primarily" and "principally". If high retail sales are "mainly" due to discounts, it means that price reductions had the biggest influence on the amount of products sold.
2 possibly: This is incorrect. If something is "possibly" (true), it may be (true), but you are not certain. The term "possibly" is a synonym or "perhaps", it is not a synonym of "mainly".
2 completely: This is incorrect. If something is "completely" (true), it is "totally" or 100% (true). Example: My telephone is COMPLETELY broken - it doesn't work at all. The term "completely" is not a synonym of "mainly".
3 put into place: This is correct. "To implement" is "to put into place or effect" or "to carry out" or "to make happen". Example: The changes in the law will be IMPLEMENTED next year. In the article, Philip is said to have implemented the discount policy, which means that he made the discounts happen, or put the discounts into place.
3 conceived: This is incorrect. "To conceive" is "to create an idea" or "imagine something". Example: I CONCEIVED the idea of turning the bedroom into a study. As we heard in the previous audio, Philip did not "conceive" the idea of discounts - Hannah did. Philip simply put the discounts into effect. Remember: "conceive" = "create"; "implement" = "put into effect"!
3 inspired: This is incorrect. "To inspire" is to give somebody the idea or motivation to do something. Example: Many people were INSPIRED by The Velvet Underground and decided to start their own bands. The article is not saying that Philip Cheeter was the source of the "discount" idea, but that he put the discounts into effect. The term "inspired" is not a synonym of "implemented".
Exercise 3
Jean: I know anything about where Horatio comes from. I’m so ashamed!
Polly: Well, he speaks to anyone on an average day. I don’t think you should feel bad about it.
Jean: I should invite him for a drink so I can find out more about him.
Polly: Well, he speaks to anyone on an average day. I don’t think you should feel bad about it.
Jean: I should invite him for a drink so I can find out more about him.
Jean: I hardly 1 know anything about where Horatio comes from. I’m so ashamed!
Polly: Well, he barely 2 speaks to anyone on an average day. I don’t think you should feel bad about it.
Jean: I should really 3 invite him for a drink so I can find out more about him.
Polly: Well, he barely 2 speaks to anyone on an average day. I don’t think you should feel bad about it.
Jean: I should really 3 invite him for a drink so I can find out more about him.
1 hardly: "Anything" is used in negative sentences. Therefore, "hardly" is the most appropriate choice here, because it conveys the meaning "almost not" or "almost nothing". Jean is saying that he knows almost nothing about where Horatio comes from. A similar example: "I hardly received anything for my birthday" (I received very few things).
1 really: We need to make this sentence negative because of the word "anything". Using "really" makes the sentence affirmative. Jean might say: "I really don't know anything about where Horatio comes from" or "I would really like to know more about where Horatio comes from".
1 almost: We need to make this sentence negative because of the word "anything". Using "almost" makes the sentence affirmative. Jean might say: "I know almost nothing about where Horatio comes from".
2 barely: Again, we need to use a negative word here because "anyone" is present in the sentence. Polly is saying that Horatio doesn't speak to many people on an average day. Another example: "-Did you hear that? -No. I can barely hear anything".
2 completely: We cannot "completely speak" in English: this doesn't mean anything. The word "completely" is used to refer to an action which can be done to various different degrees. For example: "I completely failed to notice the problem"; "He is completely heartbroken".
2 nearly: This sentence does not make sense with "nearly" (or "almost"), because we need to make the sentence negative. Polly could say: "Horatio speaks to nearly no one on an average day".
3 really: Jean is saying that it would be a very good idea for him to invite Horatio for a drink, and that this would be a good solution to the problem. The phrase "should really" can communicate that something is urgent, very important, or a very good idea. For example: "I have terrible toothache. I should really go to see a dentist".
3 hardly: It's not possible to "hardly" invite someone for a drink: you either invite them or you don't! To do something "hardly" is to do it to a very small degree. For example: "I hardly speak to my grandfather on the phone these days" (I don't speak to him very often).
3 barely: It's not possible to "barely" invite someone for a drink: you either invite them or you don't! To do something "barely" is to do it to a very small degree. For example: "I barely speak to my grandfather on the phone these days" (I don't speak to him very often).
Exercise 4
Susie: I have such a bad cold right now that I can taste this food.
Hannah: It’s not worth tasting, to be honest with you. The quality of the canteen lunches has got worse since we stopped paying for a professional chef.
Hannah: It’s not worth tasting, to be honest with you. The quality of the canteen lunches has got worse since we stopped paying for a professional chef.
Susie: I have such a bad cold right now that I can hardly 1 taste this food.
Hannah: It’s not really 2 worth tasting, to be honest with you. The quality of the canteen lunches has got a lot 3 worse since we stopped paying for a professional chef.
Hannah: It’s not really 2 worth tasting, to be honest with you. The quality of the canteen lunches has got a lot 3 worse since we stopped paying for a professional chef.
1 hardly: Susie is saying that she can almost not taste the food because of her cold. She can taste it a little, but not much at all. "Hardly" and "barely" express something which is almost not the case. For example: "I barely slept last night" (I slept very little, almost not at all).
1 probably: It doesn't make sense for Susie to say that she can "probably taste" the food. She knows whether she can taste it or not! "Probably" refers to something which has a high likelihood, or which is very possible but not certain. For example: "I'll probably be able to come to your wedding, but I'll let you know for sure in three months".
1 never: We can't use "never" in a sentence which refers to "right now". "Never" refers to an action which does not happen over a period of time. For example: "I never brush my teeth in the morning" (In my daily routine, I do not brush my teeth in the morning).
2 really: Hannah is saying that the quality of the food is quite bad: it is almost not worth tasting. "Not really" can also mean "not in reality", for example: "He's not really a wizard. He just said that to impress you".
2 barely: Generally speaking, we use "barely" (and "hardly") in affirmative sentences, not negative ones. Hannah could say: "The food is barely worth tasting".
2 hardly: Generally speaking, we use "hardly" (and "barely") in affirmative sentences, not negative ones. Hannah could say: "The food is hardly worth tasting".
3 a lot: Hannah thinks that the quality of the food has got "a lot worse": it has really declined. Another example: "The food would be a lot better if they added more seasoning to it".
3 barely: Although this sentence is grammatically correct, it is highly unlikely in the context. If something has got "barely worse", then it has almost not got worse at all: it has nearly maintained its quality. This is not what Hannah is saying here: she is expressing a very negative opinion of the food.
3 completely: We do not say "completely worse" in English, because the process of getting worse is not something that can be completed. Hannah might say: "This food is completely unacceptable" (it is not acceptable at all).
Exercise 5
Philip: I saw a single bird when I went birdwatching yesterday. I could believe it.
Bob: You didn’t go birdwatching, did you?
Philip: You’re right, that doesn’t sound like me. Perhaps it was a dream.
Bob: You didn’t go birdwatching, did you?
Philip: You’re right, that doesn’t sound like me. Perhaps it was a dream.
Philip: I hardly 1 saw a single bird when I went birdwatching yesterday. I could barely 2 believe it.
Bob: You didn’t actually 3 go birdwatching, did you?
Philip: You’re right, that doesn’t sound like me. Perhaps it was a dream.
Bob: You didn’t actually 3 go birdwatching, did you?
Philip: You’re right, that doesn’t sound like me. Perhaps it was a dream.
1 hardly: "I hardly saw a single bird" means "I saw very few birds": Philip probably saw literally one or two birds. We use the adjective "single" in negative sentences to emphasize a very small number such as this. For example: "Barely a single prime minister has ever kept their election promises" (Only one or two prime ministers have kept their election promises).
1 almost: "I almost saw a single bird" is very unnatural English. The words "a single" immediately before a noun usually indicate a negative sentence. For example: "Not a single person came to my event" (No people came to my event, not even one).
1 completely: We wouldn't say "I completely saw" in English, because the act of seeing cannot be done partially or completely – you either see something or you don't. In addition, the words "a single" immediately before a noun usually indicate a negative sentence. For example: "Not a single person came to my event" (No people came to my event, not even one).
2 barely: "I could barely believe it" is a common idiom in English, which indicates that something was difficult to believe or very surprising. We can also say "I could barely believe my eyes" (referring to seeing something) or "I could barely believe my ears" (referring to hearing something). You might also note that we can replace "barely" with "hardly" in all of these expressions.
2 nearly: This is not a common or natural expression in English. We might say "nearly believed" but not "could nearly believe". For example: "When my brother tried to convince me that the haggis is an animal, I nearly believed him… until he started laughing".
2 possibly: This is not a common or natural expression in English. We use "possibly" to refer to something which might happen, or might be true, but which we are not certain about. Philip is not saying that he is uncertain here.
3 actually: "Actually" means "in fact", "really" or "in reality". Bob doubts that Philip really went birdwatching. Another example: "These people aren't actually my friends. They are paid actors".
3 barely: Generally speaking, we use "barely" (and "hardly") in affirmative sentences, not negative ones. For example: "He barely listened to me at all" (He only listened to a very small part of what I said).
3 hardly: Generally speaking, we use "barely" (and "hardly") in affirmative sentences, not negative ones. For example: "He hardly listened to me at all" (He only listened to a very small part of what I said).
Still unsure of the best way to use 'Complete'? Improve your English thanks to our online English lessons. We offer a free test as well as a free level assessment!
What our users say:
Test your English with Gymglish today and get a free level assessment
Absolutely free - no strings attached.
