completion
HighFormal
Definition
Meaning
The action or process of finishing or making something whole.
The state of being finished; the point at which something is concluded, perfected, or made whole. Also, in law, the final step in a property transaction.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
"Completion" carries a strong sense of finality and successful achievement. It implies the entire process or project has reached its intended end point, not just paused.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is largely identical. 'Completion date' is standard in both. In UK property law, 'completion' is the final legal step of transferring ownership, whereas in US real estate, 'closing' is more common.
Connotations
Neutral-positive in both. Slightly more formal than 'finish' or 'end'. In UK, strongly associated with property transactions.
Frequency
High frequency in both, especially in business, academic, and legal contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
the completion of [NOUN PHRASE]completion by [DATE/AGENT]completion [NOUN MODIFIER]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “bring to completion”
- “reach completion”
- “a race to completion”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to the finalisation of projects, deals, or reports. 'The merger is scheduled for completion next quarter.'
Academic
Used for finishing degrees or research. 'Upon completion of her thesis, she was awarded her PhD.'
Everyday
Used for tasks like puzzles, courses, or DIY projects. 'The completion of the jigsaw puzzle took all weekend.'
Technical
In computing, refers to a process finishing execution. 'The program waits for task completion before proceeding.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The team worked tirelessly to complete the project ahead of schedule.
- The solicitor will complete the property transfer next Friday.
American English
- The contractor completed the renovations yesterday.
- She completed her degree in just three years.
adverb
British English
- The project was completely finished by noon.
- I completely forgot about the meeting.
American English
- The house was completely destroyed in the fire.
- She was completely exhausted after the marathon.
adjective
British English
- The complete works of Shakespeare are held in the library.
- He gave a complete account of the incident.
American English
- The report is now complete and ready for review.
- We need a complete set of tools for the job.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The completion of my homework made me happy.
- We celebrated the completion of the building.
- The completion date for the new bridge has been set for next spring.
- Upon completion of the course, you will receive a certificate.
- Delays in funding have pushed the project's completion back by six months.
- The successful completion of the negotiations marked a historic moment.
- The artist saw the completion of the mural as the culmination of her life's work.
- Legal completion of the acquisition is contingent on regulatory approval.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: COMpletely finiSHed + acTION = completion. It's the action of making something completely finished.
Conceptual Metaphor
A JOURNEY (reaching the destination), A CONTAINER (becoming full/whole), A PROCESS (reaching its natural endpoint).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating directly as "комплитация" (which does not exist).
- Do not confuse with "комплимент" (compliment).
- The correct Russian equivalents are "завершение", "окончание", or "выполнение", depending on context.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect spelling: 'compleation', 'complection'.
- Using 'completion' for a temporary pause ('Let's stop for lunch') instead of a permanent finish.
- Using 'completion' without 'of' when followed by a noun (e.g., 'the completion the project' is wrong).
Practice
Quiz
Which word is a strong synonym for 'completion' in a formal context?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it can be used for any task, large or small, that is finished. However, it often implies a significant or formal process.
'Completion' is more formal and often implies a structured process with a clear goal reached. 'Finish' is more general and informal.
No, 'completion' is a noun. The verb form is 'to complete'. Using 'completion' as a verb is incorrect.
In UK law, it's the final stage where money is exchanged, contracts are finalised, and ownership officially transfers. In the US, this is typically called 'closing'.