complement
verb/ˈkɒmplɪment/
/ˈkɑːmplɪment/
Verb Forms
| present simple I / you / we / they complement | /ˈkɒmplɪment/ /ˈkɑːmplɪment/ |
| he / she / it complements | /ˈkɒmplɪments/ /ˈkɑːmplɪments/ |
| past simple complemented | /ˈkɒmplɪmentɪd/ /ˈkɑːmplɪmentɪd/ |
| past participle complemented | /ˈkɒmplɪmentɪd/ /ˈkɑːmplɪmentɪd/ |
| -ing form complementing | /ˈkɒmplɪmentɪŋ/ /ˈkɑːmplɪmentɪŋ/ |
- complement something to add to something in a way that improves it or makes it more attractive
- The excellent menu is complemented by a good wine list.
- The team needs players who complement each other.
- The flavours in the dish complement each other perfectly.
Which Word? compliment / complementcompliment / complement- These words have similar spellings but completely different meanings. If you compliment someone, you say something very nice to them:
- She complimented me on my English.
- The different flavours complement each other perfectly.
- The adjectives are also often confused. Complimentary:
- She made some very complimentary remarks about my English.
- There was a complimentary basket of fruit in our room.
- The team members have different but complementary skills.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- nicely
- well
- perfectly
- …
Word Originlate Middle English (in the sense ‘completion’): from Latin complementum, from complere ‘fill up’, from com- (expressing intensive force) + plere ‘fill’. Compare with compliment.Definitions on the go
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complement