1.
to fulfill; to grant; to make come true
To make a wish, dream, or hope become reality. Can describe both fulfilling one's own dreams and granting someone else's wishes.
夢を叶えたい。
I want to make my dream come true.
彼女は長年の願いを叶えた。
She fulfilled her long-held wish.
子どもの頃からの夢を叶えるために、毎日努力を続けてきた。
I have continued to work hard every day in order to fulfill my childhood dream.
The intransitive counterpart is 叶う (to come true, to be fulfilled). 叶える is transitive — the subject actively makes the dream or wish come true. Very common in inspirational and motivational contexts.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 夢を叶える: to make a dream come true
- 願いを叶える: to grant a wish
- 望みを叶える: to fulfill a desire