Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

fulfillment

American  
[fool-fil-muhnt] / fʊlˈfɪl mənt /
especially British, fulfilment

noun

  1. the act or state of fulfilling: to achieve fulfillment of one's hopes.

    to witness the fulfillment of a dream;

    to achieve fulfillment of one's hopes.

  2. the state or quality of being fulfilled; completion; realization.

    a vague plan that had no hope of fulfillment.

  3. the process or business of handling and executing customer orders, as packing, shipping, or processing checks.


Other Word Forms

  • prefulfillment noun
  • superfulfillment noun

Etymology

Origin of fulfillment

First recorded in 1765–75; fulfill + -ment

Explanation

Fulfillment is a feeling of happiness and satisfaction. It's also the completion of something, like the fulfillment of a promise. This word has two related meanings. In terms of emotions, fulfillment is a happy, contented feeling. Many people feel fulfillment from being a parent, having a great job, or graduating from school. People often feel fulfillment when something is completed, whether it's a goal or a dream or repair work that you've been waiting on. Which leads to the other meaning of fulfillment — the act of finishing or doing something that was promised.

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

Vocabulary lists containing fulfillment

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Happiness doesn’t come from having desires fulfilled, it comes from living a life of fulfillment.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 13, 2026

Instead of positioning the product as a domesticated race car, he realized this was Ferrari’s chance to sell something less tangible but infinitely more valuable: the fulfillment of every fan’s childhood dreams.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 10, 2026

Bridges said at the time that he would “continue to lift my former partner up in prayer, wishing them joy and fulfillment in the chapters ahead.”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2026

Amazon said that on average it will equate 17 cents per unit for U.S. fulfillment by Amazon services.

From Barron's • Apr. 2, 2026

She taught me to listen to the mystery of the groaning earth and to feel complete in the fulfillment of its time.

From "Bless Me, Ultima" by Rudolfo Anaya