What does completed mean?
'Completed' is the past tense and past participle of the verb 'complete', which means to finish doing or making something, or to bring a task, process, or period to its end. It is one of the most widely used words for expressing that something has reached its intended conclusion, appearing everywhere from casual conversation ('I've completed the puzzle') to formal documentation ('the project was completed ahead of schedule'). Because it carries no strong emotional charge of its own, its connotation depends on context: it can suggest satisfaction and achievement, or simply neutral finality. The underlying verb derives from the Latin 'complēre', meaning 'to fill up or fulfil', which also gave English words such as 'complement' and 'comply'. Commonly paired with adverbs like 'successfully' or 'fully', 'completed' remains an indispensable term for describing accomplished work, finished forms, concluded journeys, and ended processes across British and American usage alike.
verbThe past tense and past participle of the verb 'complete', meaning to finish making or doing something, or to bring something to an end.
- To have finished or brought to an end a task, process, or object (past tense/past participle of 'complete').
"She completed the marathon in just under four hours."
"He completed the crossword before breakfast."
"Once the paperwork was completed, the sale went through."
'Complete' comes from Latin 'complere' — literally 'to fill up' — so when you say a task was completed, you're saying it's been filled to the brim.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of completed
'Completed' is the past participle of 'complete', which entered English from Old French 'completer' in the late Middle English period, ultimately deriving from the Latin verb 'complēre', formed from 'com-' (together) plus 'plēre' (to fill). The original sense of 'filling up' or 'making full' underlies the modern sense of bringing something to wholeness or conclusion. Cognates sharing this Latin root include 'complement', 'comply', and 'accomplish'.
Related word forms
How completed is actually used
'Completed' is standard and neutral in register, common in both everyday speech and formal contexts such as reports, applications, and project management. It frequently appears in passive constructions ('the work was completed').
Easily confused with completed
'Competent' is an adjective meaning having adequate skill, whereas 'completed' is the past form of 'complete', meaning finished.