fruitful

adjective

fruit·​ful ˈfrüt-fəl How to pronounce fruitful (audio)
1
a
: yielding or producing fruit
fruitful soil
b
: conducive to an abundant yield
fruitful rain
2
: abundantly productive
a fruitful discussion
a fruitful career
fruitfully adverb
fruitfulness noun
Choose the Right Synonym for fruitful

fertile, fecund, fruitful, prolific mean producing or capable of producing offspring or fruit.

fertile implies the power to reproduce in kind or to assist in reproduction and growth

fertile soil

; applied figuratively, it suggests readiness of invention and development.

a fertile imagination

fecund emphasizes abundance or rapidity in bearing fruit or offspring.

a fecund herd

fruitful adds to fertile and fecund the implication of desirable or useful results.

fruitful research

prolific stresses rapidity of spreading or multiplying by or as if by natural reproduction.

a prolific writer

Examples of fruitful in a Sentence

We had a fruitful discussion about the problems with the schedule. a very fruitful tree that gives us plenty of apples every year
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
That would mark the beginning of a fruitful partnership with Corman, as Haze went on to star in nearly 20 of his films. Edward Segarra, USA TODAY, 5 Nov. 2024 Martinique’s contemporaneous Négritude movement made fruitful use of Surrealism alongside Marxism, colonial resistance, and an embrace of Blackness. Jack Denton, Vulture, 11 Oct. 2024 While working as the music supervisor on the 1978 film adaptation of The Wiz, Jones met Michael Jackson, and thus began his most fruitful collaboration. Justin Curto, Vulture, 4 Nov. 2024 John David’s fiery portrayal of Willie showcases how chasing for opportunity doesn’t always equate to proper manhood and a fruitful legacy. Malik William, Essence, 4 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for fruitful 

Word History

Etymology

Middle English fruitful, fruiteful, frutefull, from fruit, frute fruit entry 1 + -ful, -full -ful entry 1

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of fruitful was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near fruitful

Cite this Entry

“Fruitful.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fruitful. Accessed 24 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

fruitful

adjective
fruit·​ful ˈfrüt-fəl How to pronounce fruitful (audio)
1
: yielding or producing fruit
2
a
: very productive
a fruitful soil
b
: bringing results
a fruitful idea
fruitfully adverb
fruitfulness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on fruitful

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!