Incomplete

/ˌɪnkəmˈpliːt/

adjectiveBeginner📊CommonState
2 meanings3 questions

Definitions

2 meanings
1

Lacking one or more parts; not finished or whole.

/ˌɪnkəmˈpliːt/

adjectiveneutralBeginner
State

Not finished or lacking a necessary part

The picture is incomplete without the final touches.

💡 Simply: Imagine you're building a LEGO castle, and you run out of bricks before you're done. That castle is incomplete! It's missing something important.

👶 For kids: Not all the way done. Like a drawing that doesn't have any color.

More Examples

2

His explanation was incomplete and left many questions unanswered.

3

The project remained incomplete due to a lack of funding.

How It's Used

General

"The report is incomplete and needs further data."

Academic

"The student received an incomplete grade due to missing assignments."

Legal

"The investigation is currently incomplete, pending further evidence."

2

To make something not whole.

/ˌɪnkəmˈpliːt/

verbnegativemedium
Action

The storm incomplete their house.

💡 Simply: To damage or destroy something's wholeness

👶 For kids: To make something not all there.

More Examples

2

The accident incomplete their plans.

How It's Used

Technical

"The software update will incomplete your ability to use the older version."

Tip:Think of 'in-' as 'not' and complete as 'whole'.

Synonyms & Antonyms

From Middle English *incompleet*, from Latin *incompletu*s, past participle of *incomplere* 'not to fill up', from *in-* 'not' + *complere* 'to fill up'.

The term has been used since the late 14th century, reflecting a consistent meaning of not finished or lacking.

Memory tip

Think of a puzzle with missing pieces - it's INCOMPLETE.

Word Origin

LanguageLatin
Original meaning

"filled, full"

incomplete informationincomplete dataincomplete projectincomplete listincomplete understanding

Common misspellings

incompletincompelete

Usage

40%Spoken
60%Written