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Showing results for gratitude. Search instead for Gratitud.
Synonyms

gratitude

American  
[grat-i-tood, -tyood] / ˈgræt ɪˌtud, -ˌtjud /

noun

gratitude plural
  1. the quality or feeling of being grateful or thankful.

    He expressed his gratitude to everyone on the staff.

    Synonyms:
    gratefulness, appreciation, thankfulness, thank

gratitude British  
/ ˈɡrætɪˌtjuːd /

noun

  1. a feeling of thankfulness or appreciation, as for gifts or favours

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

Inflected Forms

Nouns

Etymology

Origin of gratitude

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Medieval Latin grātitūdin-, stem of grātitūdō “thankfulness,” equivalent to grāt(us) “pleasing” + -i- + -tūdō -tude

Compare meaning

How does gratitude compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

Explanation

Gratitude means thanks and appreciation. It's the warm feeling you get when someone helps you figure out a great solution to a difficult problem that you've been trying to solve. Though they both recognize the instrumental roles others have played in our lives, gratitude is different from indebtedness. Gratitude, which rhymes with "attitude," comes from the Latin word gratus, which means "thankful, pleasing." When you feel gratitude, you're pleased by what someone did for you and also pleased by the results. Unlike indebtedness, you're not anxious about having to pay it back. But it's still great to tell the recipient of your gratitude how much they mean to you.

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Vocabulary lists containing gratitude

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

It’s a welcome sequel to its predecessor that shares many of its sonic characteristics while shifting from thoughts on a difficult past to meditations on mortality shot through with gratitude and wisdom.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 23, 2026

"She will be remembered in so many ways, and with gratitude for committing herself to a career of putting others first."

From BBC • Jun. 12, 2026

Steyer emailed supporters Tuesday expressing gratitude for their efforts backing his campaign, endorsements and votes.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 10, 2026

American leaders usually take that moment of deserved honor and gratitude to pay homage to the dead and wax poetic about the values and the ideals for which they died.

From Salon • Jun. 9, 2026

Father sings the blessings of gratitude after our meal, and my brothers and other men sing with him.

From "Across So Many Seas" by Ruth Behar

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