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

Campbell told the conference: "The uncomfortable truth is this, because of the Welsh government's failure to get even the basics right in literacy and numeracy, our pupils are not fulfilling their potential."

Read more on BBC

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a televised address he was "fulfilling" the promise to bring back all the hostages.

Read more on BBC

Since Starbucks started on its new service model, the company says customer complaints are down and it’s fulfilling more orders.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

"It's a space where people can grow, get support, and feel part of something bigger. Being part of that is incredibly fulfilling."

Read more on BBC

"Too often, journalists are put in harm's way while fulfilling their vital role of delivering accurate news to the public," said Media Minister Ian Murray.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• adequate 
• decent 
• fair 
• good 
• gratifying 
• satisfying www.thesaurus.com
• solid 
• suitable 
• tolerable 
• valid 

When To Use

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.