complement meaning and examples

Meaning

• Complement (noun): Something that completes, enhances, or goes well with something else.
• Complement (verb): To complete or enhance the qualities of something by providing what it lacks.

Grammar and Usage

• Part of speech: noun, verb.

• Noun usage: Often used with "to" or "of" to show relation.

  • "A complement to something" → something that makes another thing complete.

• Verb usage: Used transitively.

  • "A complements B" → A makes B better or more complete.

Not to confuse with:

• compliment (with "i"), which means to praise someone.

Common Phrases

• A perfect complement to …
• Dietary complement
• Complementary colors
• To complement each other

Collocations

• Adjective + complement: perfect complement, natural complement, ideal complement
• Verb + complement: serve as a complement, provide a complement, act as a complement
• Complement + noun: complement to the dish, complement to the team, complement of skills

Examples

1. The red wine is a perfect complement to the steak.
2. Her calm personality complements his energetic nature.
3. This scarf makes an ideal complement to your dress.
4. Good communication skills complement technical expertise in the workplace.
5. The two businesses complement each other by offering different but related services.
6. Yoga can be a useful complement to running by improving flexibility.
7. The new software complements the existing system rather than replacing it.
8. The salad was served as a light complement to the main meal.

Synonyms or Related

• supplement
• counterpart
• addition
• enhancement
• match

Antonym

• contrast
• opposite
• mismatch