Showing results for satisfy. Search instead for Satisfi.

Synonyms

satisfy

American

[sat-is-fahy] / ˈsæt ɪsˌfaɪ /

verb (used with object)

to fulfill the desires, expectations, needs, or demands of (a person, the mind, etc.); give full contentment to.

The hearty meal satisfied him.

Synonyms:

please, pacify, appease, gratify
to put an end to (a desire, want, need, etc.) by sufficient or ample provision.

The hearty meal satisfied his hunger.
to give assurance to; convince.

to satisfy oneself by investigation.

Synonyms:

persuade
to answer sufficiently, as an objection.
to solve or dispel, as a doubt.
to discharge fully (a debt, obligation, etc.).
to make reparation to or for.

to satisfy an offended person; to satisfy a wrong.
to pay (a creditor).
Mathematics.
1. to fulfill the requirements or conditions of.
  
  to satisfy a theorem.
2. (of a value of an unknown) to change (an equation) into an identity when substituted for the unknown: x = 2 satisfies 3 x = 6.

verb (used without object)

to give satisfaction.

satisfy British

/ ˈsætɪsˌfaɪ /

verb

(also intr) to fulfil the desires or needs of (a person)
to provide amply for (a need or desire)
to relieve of doubt; convince
to dispel (a doubt)
to make reparation to or for
to discharge or pay off (a debt) to (a creditor)
to fulfil the requirements of; comply with

you must satisfy the terms of your lease
maths logic to fulfil the conditions of (a theorem, assumption, etc); to yield a truth by substitution of the given value

x = 3 satisfies x² – 4x + 3 = 0

"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

Synonym Usage

Satisfy, content refer to meeting one's desires or wishes. To satisfy is to meet to the full one's wants, expectations, etc.: to satisfy a desire to travel. To content is to give enough to keep one from being disposed to find fault or complain: to content oneself with a moderate meal.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

Inflected Forms

Participles

Conjugated Forms

Present

Past

Future

Etymology

Origin of satisfy

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English satisfien, from Middle French satisfier, from unattested Vulgar Latin satisficāre (for Latin satisfacere “to do enough”; see satisfaction); see -fy

Explanation

To satisfy is to fulfill or meet a want, need, requirement, or expectation. A brilliant paper on Edgar Allan Poe might satisfy a literature class requirement, and a candy bar might satisfy a craving for chocolate. Since there are so many things we need and want, there are lots of ways to satisfy us. Eating a sandwich will satisfy your hunger. Overhearing a conversation could satisfy your curiosity. Going to school should satisfy your desire for knowledge. In college, you'll have to take certain classes to satisfy requirements of your degree. The word comes from the Latin satisfacere, which basically means “do enough.”

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

Vocabulary lists containing satisfy

Power Suffix: -fy

Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!

"The Weary Blues" by Langston Hughes

Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!

Talk Like Shakespeare Day, List 2

Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!

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.

See Examples For:

satisfy satisfies satisfied satisfying

In 2007, Joe Calzaghe's super-middleweight unification victory over Mikkel Kessler did not start until 02:00 local time to satisfy American television network Showtime.

From BBC ● Sep. 21, 2026

It means the unknown absorber must either be extremely effective at absorbing light, exist at a very high concentration inside the droplets, or satisfy both conditions.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 13, 2026

There are other ways to provide enrichment, like rotating toys every day to stimulate exploration, using puzzle feeder dishes to satisfy hunting behaviors and playing videos for your cat showing birds or fish.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 8, 2026

The high multiple has made it susceptible to volatility, as any headline or development can threaten to satisfy a market that has priced the shares to perfection.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 2, 2026

But this clearly didn’t satisfy Aunt Hila, who put her hand on the doorknob to keep him from leaving.

From "Night Owls" by A.R. Vishny

Gregg, Mandery writes, “created the bedrock principles of modern death penalty jurisprudence: that a non-arbitrary death penalty satisfies the Constitution and that the requirement of non-arbitrariness could be satisfied by Georgia’s approach.”

From Slate ● Jun. 8, 2026

The delicate diplomatic effort is being led by Michael Needham, a senior state department official who has been tasked with crafting a deal that satisfies Trump while also respecting Denmark's redlines around protecting its borders.

From BBC ● May 12, 2026

“I know they’re thinking very, very seriously about how to manage the ticket activity so that it satisfies everybody,” Sykes said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 15, 2026

That approach shortens supply chains, satisfies local regulations, and stabilizes market access.

From Barron's ● Jan. 23, 2026

I also love the book because I’m so much like Edna—nothing satisfies me, nothing makes me happy.

From "I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter" by Erika L. Sánchez

Why are so many rich people never satisfied that enough is enough?

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 21, 2026

Even if you were somewhat lonely or less satisfied with your past relationships, it’s not too late to find more comradeship and support in retirement.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 18, 2026

Cregger said he knows the "Resident Evil" fan base might not be totally satisfied with the lack of characters or details from the games themselves, but he stayed true to his vision.

From Barron's ● Sep. 16, 2026

Other foods strongly associated with feeling satisfied after eating might potentially produce comparable responses, although researchers have not yet tested that idea.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 15, 2026

I would keep asking questions until I was satisfied with the results.

From "Reaching for the Moon" by Katherine Johnson

With these three ingredients in place, the odds of a satisfying retirement soar, he says.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 18, 2026

Their entire purpose is to make things taste deeper, richer and more satisfying, and on a Monday night I am happy to let them do their jobs.

From Salon ● Sep. 14, 2026

But there is a satisfying specificity to the humor, especially as involves Asian American culture, gay life, New York City and New York City gay Asian American life, which is not overexplained.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 8, 2026

Elsewhere, he writes that “building furniture out of wood is very satisfying because it is so tangible.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 8, 2026

It was such a satisfying sound that he got up and slumped back down into it again.

From "A Monster Calls" by Patrick Ness

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023