fruitful
A1Pronunciation
UK
- /frˈuːtfəl/
US
- /ˈfrutfəl/
Description
- productive
- successful
- rewarding
Imagine planting an apple seed. If all goes well - enough water, sunshine, good soil - that seed will grow into a tree full of apples. That's what "fruitful" means. It describes something that produces good results, like a fruitful discussion leading to a solution or a fruitful career bringing satisfaction and success.
A fruitful year isn't necessarily about getting rich; it's about growth, learning useful lessons, and reaching meaningful results. Think of a writer having a fruitful writing session - they might not finish the whole novel, but they will make real progress and feel good about what they accomplished. It can also describe land that produces a lot of crops.
The word "fruitful" goes beyond simply being productive; it implies a richness and abundance of positive results. Originally connected to the idea of bearing fruit - like trees or plants - it now describes anything that yields desirable outcomes, whether tangible or intangible.
You might describe a fruitful collaboration as one where everyone involved benefits and achieves more together than they could have alone. A fruitful negotiation isn't just about getting what you want; it's about reaching an agreement that works well for the people involved. A fruitful period of research leads to new discoveries or insights.
"Fruitful" often carries a sense of satisfaction and reward. It suggests that effort has been well spent, and something valuable has been gained. While "productive" simply means getting things done, "fruitful" implies those things are worthwhile and lead to positive growth. A farmer might hope for a fruitful harvest, but an artist hopes for a fruitful creative process - one that leads to meaningful expression and artistic fulfillment.
So, when something is fruitful, it's not just getting results; it's blossoming with success, abundance, and lasting value.
Examples
- 1
Course discussion
We had a fruitful discussion about how to improve the course.
- 2
Meeting outcome
The meeting was brief but fruitful, and we left with a clear plan.
- 3
Team collaboration
Her collaboration with the design team has been very fruitful.
- 4
Police investigation
The investigation proved fruitful after police found new video evidence.
Phrase
proved fruitful
turned out to produce good results
- 5
Creative inspiration
Travel can be a fruitful source of new ideas for writers.
- 6
Career period
Those were some of the most fruitful years of her career.
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- fruitfuladjective