unfulfilled

adjective un·ful·filled \ ˌən-fu̇(l)-ˈfild also -fə(l)- \

Updated on: 26 May 2018

Definition of unfulfilled

: not fulfilled:

a : not filled : unsatisfied, unmet

… vital unfulfilled needs of the nation …
—Harry Truman

b : not carried out : not accomplished or finished

unfulfilled goals

unfulfilled shipments

c : not converted into reality

an unfulfilled promise

d : not having reached a point of satisfaction or happiness

… a family that includes a supportive yet equally unfulfilled wife …
—Matt Roush

See unfulfilled defined for English-language learners

Recent Examples of unfulfilled from the Web

But unless the composition of architecture professionals changes, its potential will remain unfulfilled—and gender parity isn’t the only thing that needs to improve.

— diana budds, Curbed, "How architecture can rebuild itself post #MeToo," 21 May 2018
Twenty-five years and two Super Bowl trips later, that promise remains unfulfilled.

— jonathan jones, SI.com, "Jerry Richardson Moves On; the NFL’s Investigation Could Be Forced to Do the Same," 17 May 2018
The similarities prompted critics of the North-South detente to warn that Mr. Kim, the North’s third-generation leader, had recycled many of the same vows his father, Kim Jong Il, and grandfather, Kim Il Sung, made but which remain unfulfilled.

— jonathan cheng, WSJ, "Groundhog Day in Korea? Critics of Detente Have Seen This Script Before," 29 Apr. 2018
Soon after JP Boyd closed out his collegiate career with unfulfilled potential, the former junior tennis standout from Torrey Pines High took another avenue to regain his spark for the game.

— glae thien, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Tennis lover finds whole new flame," 3 May 2018
That both Kennedys met tragic ends came to represent the chaos of the 1960s as well as its unfulfilled hope.

— alex shephard, The New Republic, "The Eternal Return of the Kennedys," 30 Apr. 2018
More attention gravitated toward Felicia, leaving Tayla behind to figure out what some believed to be unfulfilled potential.

— andrew turner, latimes.com, "Daily Pilot High School Female Athlete of the Week: Costa Mesa’s Tayla Crenshaw making a name for herself," 28 Apr. 2018
Skeptics of engagement have long said that the North often turns to interminable rounds of diplomacy meant to ease the pain of sanctions — giving it time to perfect its weapons and win aid for unfulfilled nuclear promises.

— foster klug, BostonGlobe.com, "How sports prepared one of Boston’s most successful businessmen for primetime," 27 Apr. 2018
Skeptics of engagement have long said that the North often turns to interminable rounds of diplomacy meant to ease the pain of sanctions – giving it time to perfect its weapons and win aid for unfulfilled nuclear promises.

— foster klug, The Christian Science Monitor, "In historic summit, Korean leaders repeat commitment to denuclearize," 27 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'unfulfilled.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of unfulfilled

14th century

in the meaning defined above

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