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.
"While we are still investigating the motives of this individual, we are thankful he was apprehended before the President's visit," First Assistant US Attorney Bill Essayli said in a statement late Tuesday.
From Barron's ● Aug. 5, 2026
He also stated that he is thankful for the large age gap between him and his children–as it means they won’t have to constantly have their own careers being compared to their father’s.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 3, 2026
Pedranti continued that she was thankful that there was no property damage and nobody was injured.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 10, 2026
I couldn’t be more thankful, and pray that others still imprisoned will experience this same freedom soon.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 8, 2026
At dinner tonight, when my family shares what we’re each thankful for, I’m going to say, “I’m thankful for my new friend.”
From "A Place at the Table" by Saadia Faruqi and Laura Shovan
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.
