fulfillment
Americannoun
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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.
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the state or quality of being fulfilled; completion; realization.
a vague plan that had no hope of fulfillment.
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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
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.
Vocabulary lists containing fulfillment
Mahatma Gandhi's "Quit India" Speech
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Bless Me, Ultima
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"Democracy in America, Vol. 1" by Alexis de Tocqueville, Introduction–Chapter 5
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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
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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.