complement
gb/kˈɑmpləmənt/ us/kˈɑmpləmənt/
B2
English
~ 8600
kiegészítő, kiegészítés, kiegészít, illik, teljes létszám, teljes készlet, komplementer halmaz, komplementer, komplementum
NOUN
B2
1
kiegészítő
B1
kiegészítés
B1
Usage pattern:
[something] is a complement to [something]
This crisp white wine is the perfect complement to spicy seafood dishes.
Ez az üde, száraz fehérbor tökéletes kiegészítője a fűszeres tengeri ételeknek.
Her calm, methodical style is a great complement to his energetic approach.
A nő nyugodt, módszeres stílusa remekül kiegészíti a férfi energikus megközelítését.
The new app is designed as a complement to the existing desktop software.
A side salad makes a light complement to the rich main course.
The scarf is a colorful complement to her otherwise plain outfit.
Learner examples
Rice is a good complement to many meat dishes.
A rizs sok húsételhez jó köret.
His skills are a strong complement to the team.
A készségei nagyban kiegészítik a csapatot.
The sauce is a nice complement to the fish.
This book is a useful complement to the main textbook.
The red shoes are a fun complement to her black dress.
Common mistake:
Learners often confuse "complement" with "compliment". "Complement" (with an "e") is about completing or going well with something: "The sauce is a perfect complement to the meat." "Compliment" (with an "i") means praise: "He gave her a compliment on her cooking." Another mistake is using the wrong preposition; for this sense it is usually "a complement to" something, not "a complement of".
Meaning
something that completes or pairs well
Collocations
perfect complement
|natural complement
|ideal complement
|complement to
|serve as a complement
|provide a complement
Synonyms
counterpart (Often stresses a matching part or equivalent in another place or system, not always about improving or completing.)
|
match (More general and informal; can mean simply that two things go well together, without the idea of completion.)
|
supplement (Focuses on adding something extra that is missing; less about natural harmony and more about filling a gap.)
Antonyms
clash (Used especially about colors, styles, or ideas that do not go well together.)
|
mismatch (Emphasizes that two things do not fit or work well together.)
Themes
relationships
|description
|daily life
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Something that makes another thing complete or better, or goes very well with it.
Something that completes, enhances, or goes especially well with something else.
VERB
B2
2
Usage pattern:
[something] complements [something]
The light curtains complement the dark wooden floor beautifully.
A világos függönyök gyönyörűen kiegészítik a sötét fapadlót.
Their skills complement each other, so they make a strong team.
Képességeik kiegészítik egymást, így erős csapatot alkotnak.
A squeeze of lemon really complements the flavor of the fish.
This software is meant to complement, not replace, traditional teaching.
The new regulations are designed to complement existing safety laws.
Learner examples
The blue shirt complements his eyes.
A kék ing kiemeli a szemét.
These two colors complement each other well.
Ez a két szín jól kiegészíti egymást.
Her soft voice complements the quiet music.
This small course will complement your main studies.
The new app complements the website.
Common mistake:
Learners often write *"compliment"* instead of "complement" for this meaning, especially after hearing it. Remember: "complement" is used when two things go well together ("The shoes complement the dress"), while "compliment" is used when you say something nice to someone ("He complimented her dress"). Another mistake is adding "with": in most cases we say "X complements Y", not *"complements with Y"*.
Meaning
to complete or go well with
Collocations
complement each other
|complement [something] perfectly
|colors that complement
|flavors that complement
|skills that complement
|designed to complement
Synonyms
enhance (Focuses more on improving quality, not always on completing or balancing another thing.)
|
balance (Stresses creating harmony or evenness; may not always imply completion.)
|
go with (More informal; often used about clothes, colors, or food that look or taste good together.)
Antonyms
clash (Used especially for colors, designs, or styles that look bad together.)
|
conflict (Emphasizes that two things do not work or fit well together.)
Themes
relationships
|description
|arts
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To go well with something and make it better or more complete.
To combine with something in a way that completes it or makes it more attractive, effective, or useful.
NOUN
C1
3
Usage pattern:
a full complement of [people/things]
The hospital finally has a full complement of doctors on the night shift.
A kórházban végre megvan a teljes orvoslétszám az éjszakai műszakban.
The ship sailed with a complement of 200 passengers and 50 crew.
A hajó 200 utassal és 50 fős legénységgel futott ki.
We will open the new branch as soon as we reach a full complement of staff.
The board now has its full complement of ten members.
The aircraft took off with a full complement of fuel and supplies.
Learner examples
The hotel does not have a full complement of workers yet.
A szállodában még nincs meg a teljes dolgozói létszám.
The bus left with a full complement of passengers.
A busz teljes utaslétszámmal indult el.
Our team now has a full complement of players.
The office will run better with a full complement of staff.
The ship carried a complement of 30 sailors.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think this sense means "extra" people or things, but it actually means the full, correct number. Another error is using it without an article; in most cases you say "a full complement of" rather than just *"full complement of"* in standard written English.
Meaning
full number or amount needed
Collocations
a full complement of staff
|a full complement of crew
|entire complement
|carry a complement of
|complement of officers
Synonyms
full staff (Informal and specific to employees; does not work well with non-human things.)
|
full quota (Often used when a fixed, allowed number is involved; slightly more technical.)
|
entire roster (Used more about lists of people such as teams; less general than "complement".)
Antonyms
shortage (Highlights having too few people or things compared with what is needed.)
|
understaffing (Specific to not having enough staff or workers.)
Themes
work
|organization
|transport
|core_vocabulary
Definition
The full group or amount that is needed or usual in a situation.
The complete number or amount of people or things that is required or allowed.
NOUN
C1
TECHNICAL
4
Usage pattern:
the complement of [set A] (in [set B])
If U is the universal set and A is a subset of U, then the complement of A is written as A′ or Ac.
Ha U az alaphalmaz, A pedig U részhalmaza, akkor A komplementerét A′-vel vagy A^c-vel jelöljük.
In this exercise you must find the complement of the shaded region in the Venn diagram.
Ebben a feladatban meg kell határoznod a Venn-diagramon besatírozott terület komplementerét.
The complement of the set of even numbers, within the integers, is the set of odd numbers.
Learner examples
In the picture, the white area is the complement of set A.
Az ábrán a fehér rész az A halmaz komplementere.
The teacher asked us to find the complement of B in the universal set U.
A tanár azt kérte, hogy határozzuk meg a B halmaz komplementerét az U alaphalmazban.
In a Venn diagram, the complement is everything outside the circle for that set.
Common mistake:
Students sometimes confuse the complement of a set with its subset. A complement contains all elements not in the set (relative to some universal set), while a subset contains elements that are inside the set.
Meaning
set of all elements not in a set
Collocations
the complement of A
|set complement
|relative complement
|complement in the universal set
|complement of a subset
Synonyms
set-theoretic complement (More explicit and technical term used in mathematics texts.)
Antonyms
subset (Not a strict logical opposite, but contrasts with focusing on elements inside the set instead of outside it.)
Themes
mathematics
|education
|science
Definition
In mathematics, all the items in the whole group that are not in a smaller group you are talking about.
In set theory, the set of all elements in a given universal set that are not members of a specified set.
NOUN
C1
TECHNICAL
5
kiegészítő
B2
komplementum
C1
Usage pattern:
a [subject/object] complement
In the sentence "She is a doctor", the noun phrase "a doctor" functions as a subject complement.
A „She is a doctor” mondatban az „a doctor” főnévi szerkezet alanyi kiegészítőként működik.
Some verbs, like "consider", can take an object complement, as in "They considered him a friend."
Egyes igék, például a „consider”, tárgyi kiegészítőt is kaphatnak, mint a „They considered him a friend” mondatban.
The clause "that she was late" is a clausal complement of the verb "explained" in this sentence.
Learner examples
In "He became tired", the word "tired" is a subject complement.
A „He became tired” mondatban a „tired” szó alanyi kiegészítő.
In "We named the dog Max", the word "Max" is an object complement.
A „We named the dog Max” mondatban a „Max” szó tárgyi kiegészítő.
Your teacher may ask you to underline the complement in the sentence.
Common mistake:
Learners often confuse complements with adjuncts. A complement is required to complete the meaning of the verb ("She put the book on the table" — "on the table" is a complement), but an adjunct is extra information that can be removed ("She read the book yesterday" — "yesterday" is an adjunct).
Meaning
grammatical element completing meaning
Collocations
subject complement
|object complement
|verb complement
|clausal complement
|complement of the verb
Synonyms
predicative (Technical term often used for complements linked to the subject via a linking verb; more specific than "complement".)
Antonyms
adjunct (In grammar, an optional part of the sentence that is not required to complete the meaning of the verb.)
Themes
linguistics
|education
|language
|communication
Definition
In grammar, a word or group of words that you must add to a verb, noun, or adjective so that the sentence has a complete meaning.
In grammar, a word or phrase that is needed to complete the meaning of a particular verb, noun, or adjective.
Grammar
Dictionary form
complement
IPA
GB/kˈɑmpləmənt/
US/kˈɑmpləmənt/
Syllables & stress
com - ple - ment (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (com)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: complement
- Plural: complement, complements
Verb
- Base: complement
- 3rd Person Singular: complements
- Present Participle: complementing
- Past: complemented
Word family
Forms
complements
noun
complementing
verb
complemented
verb
Core family
complementary
adjective B2
Related words
Negative and opposite forms
incomplete
adjective B1
Advanced or less common
complementarity
noun
Expressions
a full complement of [something]
1/ə fˈʊl kˈɑmpləmənt əv sˈʌmθɪŋ/
fixed phrase
the complete number needed
Used to say that you have the full number of people or things that you need or expect.
Examples
- We finally have a full complement of staff for the summer season.
- The plane took off with a full complement of passengers and crew.
a perfect complement to [something]
1/ə pˈɚfɛkt kˈɑmpləmənt tə sˈʌmθɪŋ/
fixed phrase
ideal thing that completes something
Used to say that one thing goes extremely well with another thing and makes it better or complete.
Examples
- This sharp cheddar is a perfect complement to the sweet apple slices.
- Her technical knowledge is a perfect complement to his sales experience.
complement each other
1/kˈɑmpləmənt ˈit͡ʃ ˈʌðɚ/
fixed phrase
mutually complete or enhance each other
Used when two or more people or things go very well together and make each other better or more complete.
Examples
- Their personalities complement each other; she is patient and he is decisive.
- The sweet sauce and the salty meat really complement each other.
serve as a complement to [something]
1/sˈɚv ˈæz ə kˈɑmpləmənt tə sˈʌmθɪŋ/
fixed phrase
formal
function to complete or support
Used in more formal English to say that something has the job of completing or supporting something else.
Examples
- The online course is designed to serve as a complement to classroom teaching.
- Local buses serve as a complement to the city’s train network.