fulfilling

[ fool-fil-ing ]

adjective

1. satisfying or rewarding, especially by meeting the emotional need for meaning, challenge, growth, success, etc.:

   The young graduates were looking forward to the adventure of growing personally, gaining new skills, and embarking on a fulfilling career.

Word History and Origins

Origin of fulfilling¹

First recorded in 1300–50; fulfill ( def ) + -ing ²( def )

Example Sentences

Earlier, however, Grassley was maskless as he fulfilled his usual duties as president pro tempore, gaveling the Senate to order and leading the Pledge from the rostrum, perched just above the seats of several clerks.

From Washington Post

The school board and its attorneys would ultimately have to decide if a case could be made that Beiser was not fulfilling his duties, Cate said.

From Voice of San Diego

Nana has created a new, scalable approach to giving people the agency, tools and support systems they need to build new skills and pursue fulfilling work opportunities.

From TechCrunch

On the mountain’s western slope, exhausted but fulfilled, we stopped by a lakeside hut to refill our water bottles and rest in the chilly twilight.

From Nautilus

Now, if Data doesn’t feel pain, at least one of the reasons Singer offers for giving a creature moral standing is not fulfilled.

From Singularity Hub 

Back in New York, the slow pace and inward focus of her yoga practice was less fulfilling.

From The Daily Beast

Christie has a lot riding on fulfilling his promise of shepherding Atlantic City into a third boom era.

From The Daily Beast

“Instead of me fulfilling my prophecy,” he said, “I have to start one,” and that was a lot of pressure.

From The Daily Beast

When I attended Hunter, I was Eleanor Roeloffs fulfilling the language and math courses required at the time.

From The Daily Beast

He toiled without money to do that, but for him it had been an incredibly fulfilling and rewarding experience.

From The Daily Beast

None, however, on that account, can excuse himself for not coming under and fulfilling a good obligation.

From Project Gutenberg

Luckily, the time fixed for the revolution passed over, without the populace fulfilling its threats.

From Project Gutenberg

And those good works include the keeping of the covenant, by Covenanting and fulfilling the engagements made.

From Project Gutenberg

Such a face, rugged though it was and far from fulfilling the promise held out to him in his dreams, could not but move any man.

From Project Gutenberg

Indeed, mademoiselle, I thought of little beyond fulfilling the oath I had taken, and to go my way again as quickly as possible.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• administration
• application
• imposition
• prosecution

More About Fulfilling

What does fulfilling mean?

Fulfilling means providing or resulting in satisfaction or contentment.

A job is fulfilling when it allows a person to fully use their talents and work on projects that they enjoy and that they find meaning in. A relationship is fulfilling for someone when it brings them happiness and a deep connection.

Fulfilling is also the continuous tense (-ing form) of the verb fulfill, meaning “to satisfy” or “to bring about” (which is how it’s used in the term self-fulfilling, as in self-fulfilling prophecy).

Something that’s fulfilling leads to fulfillment—a state of satisfaction or contentment. Someone who feels this way can be described as fulfilled.

Example: My trip across Europe has been so fulfilling—I’ve learned new languages and new cultures, and, most importantly, I’ve learned new things about myself.

Where does fulfilling come from?

The first records of the verb fulfill come from before 1000. The adjective form fulfilling is first recorded later. It ultimately comes from the Old English fulfyllan. Just as it sounds, the roots of the word fulfill are the words full and fill.

Something that’s fulfilling fills you up—it makes you full of contentment or satisfaction. Tasks and hobbies that are fulfilling are worth doing because of what you get out of them. When things aren’t fulfilling, it means they don’t give you much in return. A job might not be fulfilling if it doesn’t make you feel like you’re doing something useful or at least learning something from it.

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms of fulfilling?

• fulfill (verb)

What are some synonyms for fulfilling?

• satisfying

What are some words that share a root or word element with fulfilling? 

 

• self-fulfilling
• fulfillment
• full
• fill

What are some words that often get used in discussing fulfilling?

• satisfaction
• contentment
• job
• career
• task
• relationship
• hobby

How is fulfilling used in real life?

Fulfilling is typically used in a positive way. It’s especially used in the context of careers, relationships, and hobbies.

Research shows that #STEMteachers find their work fulfilling. It is also reported that teachers are 6 times more likely to say that they make a difference in people’s lives than other STEM professionals. Agree? https://t.co/el3uubBZ5N #K12STEM #TeachSTEM #STEMeducation pic.twitter.com/ME6ORMuPTg

— 100Kin10 (@100Kin10) December 19, 2018

Most people don’t have a fulfilling relationship with others, because they don’t have a fulfilling relationship with themselves. In fact, they will do anything to not have a relationship with themselves, all in an attempt to distract their minds from the sounds of their own soul.

— 🔮✨ (@TheOracleReadsU) May 22, 2020

Welp, it has been a fulfilling 2 year journey.

I have learned so many things, made way too many mistakes, and I'm starting to understand the reason as to why I am here. May not have made that many friends but I am proud to call them my brothers and sisters.

Forever grateful 💛

— Yeah…No (@YannoEdren) May 29, 2020

 

 

Try using fulfilling!

Is fulfilling used correctly in the following sentence?

I find woodworking so fulfilling because it’s relaxing and I can make things that last.