Cool MateComplement vs Complete vs Enhance vs Supplement
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Complement
Complete
Enhance
Supplement
| Complement | Complete | Enhance | Supplement | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈkɒmplɪment/","/ˈkɒmplɪments/","/ˈkɒmplɪmentɪd/","/ˈkɒmplɪmentɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈkɑːmplɪment/","/ˈkɑːmplɪments/","/ˈkɑːmplɪmentɪd/","/ˈkɑːmplɪmentɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/kəmˈpliːt/"]/🇺🇸 /["/kəmˈpliːt/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ɪnˈhɑːns/","/ɪnˈhɑːnsɪz/","/ɪnˈhɑːnst/","/ɪnˈhɑːnsɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ɪnˈhæns/","/ɪnˈhænsɪz/","/ɪnˈhænst/","/ɪnˈhænsɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈsʌplɪmənt/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈsʌplɪmənt/"]/ |
| Meaning | Something that goes well with something else or completes it. | To finish something completely. | To improve something and make it better. | Something added to help or improve something else. |
| Example | The excellent menu is complemented by a good wine list. | The puzzle is now complete after I found the last piece. | The new software will enhance the overall performance of the computer. | The textbook serves as a supplement to the main course material. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 5,000 (fairly common) | Beyond 10,000 (less common) |
| CEFR level | C1 | A1 | B2 | C1 |
| Part of speech | verb | adjective | verb | noun |
| Collocations | nicely, well, perfectly | be, seem, survive, remarkably, very, far from, be, seem, almost, nearly, substantially | considerably, dramatically, greatly, can, could, may, digitally enhanced, surgically enhanced | useful, valuable, colour/color, provide (somebody/something with), add, take, supplement to, useful, valuable, colour/color, provide (somebody/something with), add, take, supplement to, useful, valuable, colour/color, provide (somebody/something with), add, take, supplement to, additional, extra, $100, add, charge, carry, be payable, at a supplement, supplement for, supplement on |
| Antonyms | detract, contrast | incomplete, unfinished, partial | degrade, diminish, reduce | reduction, diminution, lessening |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'compliment', which means to praise someone., Using 'complement' in the wrong context, like to mean 'complete'., Incorrectly spelling it as 'complement' when referring to praise. | Confused with 'finished' — both mean to end, but 'complete' emphasizes fullness., Using 'complete' when a task is partially done., 'Complete' is sometimes incorrectly used as a noun. | Confused with 'enhancement' in noun form., Using 'enhance' without an object (it needs something to enhance)., Incorrectly using as a synonym for 'increase' in unrelated contexts. | Confused with 'complement', which means something that completes another., Using it as a verb when referring to physical items instead of additional support. |
| Usage notes | Use 'complement' when talking about adding something that enhances or completes another thing. It's appropriate in both casual and formal contexts, but avoid using it in situations that require a different meaning like 'compliment'. | Use 'complete' in academic or professional contexts when discussing tasks, projects, or forms. Avoid using it in overly casual conversations. | Used in both professional and casual contexts. More common in writing than speaking. Avoid in informal situations where simpler words may suffice. | Used in contexts related to health, nutrition, and finance. Avoid in casual conversations unless discussing specific dietary needs or financial advice. |
Frequently asked questions: Complement vs Complete vs Enhance vs Supplement
What's the difference between Complement, Complete, Enhance, and Supplement?
Complement: Something that goes well with something else or completes it. Complete: To finish something completely. Enhance: To improve something and make it better. Supplement: Something added to help or improve something else.
Which is more common: Complement, Complete, Enhance, and Supplement?
Complete is the most common in everyday English.
Are Complement, Complete, Enhance, and Supplement the same CEFR level?
Complement: C1, Complete: A1, Enhance: B2, Supplement: C1 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Complement, Complete, Enhance, and Supplement?
Complement: verb, Complete: adjective, Enhance: verb, Supplement: noun.
Can you show an example of each?
Complement: The excellent menu is complemented by a good wine list. Complete: The puzzle is now complete after I found the last piece. Enhance: The new software will enhance the overall performance of the computer. Supplement: The textbook serves as a supplement to the main course material.
Can I use Complement, Complete, Enhance, and Supplement interchangeably?
Not always. Complement, Complete, Enhance, and Supplement are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.