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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

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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

Chip companies across the board can’t satisfy all the demand for artificial-intelligence chips, but the issues might be especially pronounced at Intel.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 30, 2026

Games companies must keep innovating when linking contemporary audiences to the past, says Wulf, in order satisfy their desire for fresh experiences.

From BBC ● Oct. 30, 2026

Ramaswamy stumbled for a moment, responding that legal immigrants were still cool, which failed to satisfy the heckler.

From Slate ● Oct. 23, 2026

The move, orchestrated by Everett to satisfy the demands of the company’s top-dollar backers, cheats Michael out of his stock options and equity in the company.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 16, 2026

Finally, to satisfy them, I told the only joke I knew, one that had made me laugh out loud when I heard it, even though I’d never repeated it myself.

From "The Book of Unknown Americans" by Cristina Henríquez

Zelensky is trying to strike a solution that satisfies all sides to avoid divisions in the face of the ongoing invasion.

From Barron's ● Jul. 20, 2026

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

“Project Hail Mary” is wholesome science fiction that satisfies like a jumbo serving of apple pie and milk.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 18, 2026

"The decision satisfies me with regard to the violation of my private life," he told the BBC.

From BBC ● Feb. 26, 2026

The intelligent beings in these regions should therefore not be surprised if they observe that their locality in the universe satisfies the conditions that are necessary for their existence.

From "A Brief History of Time: And Other Essays" by Stephen Hawking

Meals rich in protein, fibre and volume tend to keep us satisfied for longer.

From BBC ● Nov. 6, 2026

"The changes and improvements outlined have satisfied me that the issues identified in both the RAIB's report and in this inquiry either have been or are being addressed by the rail industry," she said.

From BBC ● Nov. 4, 2026

Taxi driver Ahmed al-Lahham, who has been using an electric car for three months, was among those who appeared satisfied with the change.

From Barron's ● Oct. 30, 2026

The acceptances of the offer mean that the threshold condition for Tata’s proposed takeover has been satisfied, the filing said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 27, 2026

Not that I had much to give but, after some last-minute quilting, I was satisfied.

From "Hattie Big Sky" by Kirby Larson

Add protein, vegetables, some coconut milk or stock, and you’re already well on your way to something fragrant and satisfying.

From Salon ● Nov. 5, 2026

There has been no more satisfying slap in cinema this year than the one Erika lands on a smug German actor, leading to a wicked punchline that shouldn’t be spoiled.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 23, 2026

For Professor Gareth Collins of Imperial College London, the discovery brings a satisfying conclusion to a controversy he witnessed firsthand.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 21, 2026

It’s a delicate, emotionally satisfying way for the dark and light sides of this set to be brought together.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 21, 2026

Destruction is very satisfying, he heard, but it was like a voice on the breeze, almost not there at all.

From "A Monster Calls" by Patrick Ness

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