English Reference
Adjective

unfulfilled

adj.
B2 Upper Intermediate US /ˌənfʊɫˈfɪɫd/ UK /ʌnfʊlfˈɪld/ un·ful·filled

adj.not having achieved what you wanted or expected. You use this to describe a feeling of being unhappy because you did not reach a goal.

adj.not having achieved a desired or expected result; lacking in satisfaction or completion. Often used to describe a state of emotional dissatisfaction or a goal that remains unrealised.


SIMPLE

He felt unfulfilled after his first year of work.

CONTEXTUAL

Many young professionals leave their corporate jobs in search of a more creative path, feeling unfulfilled by the repetitive nature of office life.

COMPLEX

The protagonist's journey is defined by a sense of unfulfilled potential, as he struggles to reconcile his artistic ambitions with the practical demands of his family's expectations.

Like most prodigiously successful people, José Mourinho is clearly quite odd, and possibly, even now, as he prepares to take over once again at Real Madrid, slightly unfulfilled.

The Guardian· 11 Aug 2026
This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Occasional
Updated