In plain English
It sets a deadline for when the work needs to be done. The date or time shown is the final point allowed for finishing it, not when to start.
In context
Here, “complete by” labels the deadline for finishing the task.
- Situation
- Completing employee onboarding, payroll setup, policies, and mandatory forms
- What it communicates
- labels the date or time by which the task should be finished.
Meaning limits
By itself, the term identifies only the finishing deadline, not the amount of work involved or when the task should begin.
Examples
“You can start the garden wall next week, but complete it by Friday evening.”
“The job sheet gives Friday evening as the complete-by time for the garden wall.”