fulfilling

adjective

ful·​fill·​ing fu̇(l)-ˈfi-liŋ How to pronounce fulfilling (audio)
 also  fə(l)-
Synonyms of fulfillingnext
: providing happiness or satisfaction
a fulfilling experience
a career that is personally fulfilling

Synonyms

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of fulfilling in a Sentence

the college student had a fulfilling job tutoring inner-city youths
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The cultural aspect of having both sets of grandparents in the house has also been incredibly fulfilling for Jessica. — Faisal Kutty, Newsweek, 12 Mar. 2025 Embracing vulnerability as a strength rather than a weakness and focusing on deep emotional connections instead of seeking admiration can lead to healthier, more fulfilling relationships. — Mark Travers, Forbes, 7 Mar. 2025 This approach promotes the importance of sustainable habits and behaviors that enhance lifelong health, energy, and vitality, supporting not only physical health but also mental well-being and emotional stability, which leads to an overall more fulfilling life. — Outside Online, 4 Mar. 2025 The directors in both cases grapple with their obvious adoration for the entertainment that shaped them, juxtaposed with the acknowledgment that living through screens can only ever be a simulacrum and not a replacement for a fulfilling existence. — Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 31 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for fulfilling

Word History

First Known Use

1922, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of fulfilling was in 1922

Phrases Containing fulfilling

Rhymes for fulfilling

See All Rhymes for fulfilling

Browse Nearby Words

fulfilling
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Fulfilling.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fulfilling. Accessed 21 Mar. 2025.

Copy Citation

Share

More from Merriam-Webster on fulfilling

Nglish: Translation of fulfilling for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

More Commonly Misspelled Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

What do SCOTUS, POTUS, and FLOTUS mean?

Flower Etymologies For Your Spring Garden

More Words with Remarkable Origins

Terroir, Oenophile, & Magnum: Ten Words About Wine

8 Words for Lesser-Known Musical Instruments
See More

Popular Features

See More

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

What do SCOTUS, POTUS, and FLOTUS mean?

Flower Etymologies For Your Spring Garden
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Word Game Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
number-twelve-balloon
12-Letter Words Quiz A dozen words, a dozen letters each.
See All