thankful
Americanadjective
adjective
Synonym Usage
See grateful.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of thankful
First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English thancful; see thank, -ful
Compare meaning
How does thankful compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
On Thanksgiving, we remember to be thankful, showing and feeling our thanks for the meal and company in front of us. When you are thankful, you're full of thanks. It's a word that expresses either a feeling or showing of gratitude. You can be thankful that the long week is over, or you can give a thankful smile to your boss when she says you can leave a few hours early.
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.
Thankful: The latest employment report—September’s delayed estimates, which were released only this month—showed the economy added 119,000 jobs.
From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 26, 2025
Thankful he’d worn two layers of clothes, Kingery looked at his now-empty street corner with nothing but the bruises on his back.
From Slate • Oct. 8, 2025
In Argyll, the A83 at the Rest and Be Thankful is known for its potential for landslips.
From BBC • May 22, 2025
Thankful to be among the fortunate ones, she couldn’t bear to see neighbors struggle on the block she has called home for 35 years.
From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 2, 2023
Thankful, Jonathan filled the cup with milk by dipping it into the bucket, then drew it out and drank it down in two quick swallows.
From "The Fighting Ground" by Avi
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
