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Definition of fulfill verb from the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary

     

    fulfill

     verb
    verb
    NAmE//fʊlˈfɪl//
     
    Verb Forms present simple I / you / we / they fulfill he / she / it fulfills past simple fulfilled -ing form fulfilling
     
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  1. 1fulfill something to do or achieve what was hoped for or expected to fulfill your dream/ambition/potential
  2. 2fulfill something to do or have what is required or necessary to fulfill a duty/an obligation/a promise to fulfill the terms/conditions of an agreement No candidate fulfills all the criteria for this position.
  3. 3fulfill something to have a particular role or purpose Preschools should fulfill the function of preparing children for school.
  4. 4fulfill somebody/yourself to make someone feel happy and satisfied with what they are doing or have done I need a job that really fulfills me. He was able to fulfill himself through his painting.
 
noun [uncountable] the fulfillment of a dream to find personal fulfillment Thesaurussatisfaction
  • happiness
  • pride
  • contentment
  • fulfillment
These are all words for the good feeling that you have when you are happy or when you have achieved something.
  • satisfaction the good feeling that you have when you have achieved something or when something that you wanted to happen does happen:He derived great satisfaction from knowing that his son was happy.
  • happiness the good feeling that you have when you are happy:Money can't buy you happiness.
  • pride a feeling of pleasure or satisfaction that you get when you, or people who are connected with you, have done something well or own something that other people admire:The sight of her son graduating filled her with pride.
  • contentment (somewhat formal) a feeling of happiness or satisfaction with what you have:They found contentment in living a simple life.
  • fulfillment a feeling of happiness or satisfaction with what you do or have done:her search for personal fulfillment
satisfaction, happiness, contentment, or fulfillment?
  • You can feel satisfaction at achieving almost anything, small or large; you feel fulfillment when you do something useful and enjoyable with your life. Happiness is the feeling you have when things give you pleasure and can be quite a lively feeling;contentment is a quieter feeling that you get when you have learned to find pleasure in things.
Patterns
  • satisfaction/happiness/pride/contentment/fulfillment in something
  • real satisfaction/happiness/pride/contentment/fulfillment
  • true satisfaction/happiness/contentment/fulfillment
  • great satisfaction/happiness/pride
  • quiet satisfaction/pride/contentment
  • to feel satisfaction/happiness/pride/contentment
  • to bring somebody satisfaction/happiness/pride/contentment/fulfillment
  • to find satisfaction/happiness/contentment/fulfillment