satisfy
Americanverb (used with object)
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to fulfill the desires, expectations, needs, or demands of (a person, the mind, etc.); give full contentment to.
The hearty meal satisfied him.
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to put an end to (a desire, want, need, etc.) by sufficient or ample provision.
The hearty meal satisfied his hunger.
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to give assurance to; convince.
to satisfy oneself by investigation.
- Synonyms:
- persuade
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to answer sufficiently, as an objection.
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to solve or dispel, as a doubt.
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to discharge fully (a debt, obligation, etc.).
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to make reparation to or for.
to satisfy an offended person; to satisfy a wrong.
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to pay (a creditor).
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Mathematics.
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to fulfill the requirements or conditions of.
to satisfy a theorem.
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(of a value of an unknown) to change (an equation) into an identity when substituted for the unknown: x = 2 satisfies 3 x = 6.
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verb (used without object)
verb
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(also intr) to fulfil the desires or needs of (a person)
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to provide amply for (a need or desire)
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to relieve of doubt; convince
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to dispel (a doubt)
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to make reparation to or for
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to discharge or pay off (a debt) to (a creditor)
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to fulfil the requirements of; comply with
you must satisfy the terms of your lease
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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
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
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satisfyingnessnoun
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satisfyinglyadverb
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presatisfyverb (used with object)
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satisfiernoun
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outsatisfyverb (used with object)
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satisfiableadjective
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supersatisfyverb (used with object)
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satisfyingadjective
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nonsatisfyingadjective
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unsatisfiableadjective
Conjugated Forms
Present
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have satisfiedperfect
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has satisfiedperfect 3rd person singular
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are satisfyingprogressive
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is satisfyingprogressive 3rd person singular
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has been satisfyingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
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am satisfyingprogressive 1st person singular
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satisfyingparticiple
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have been satisfyingperfect progressive
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satisfiessingular 3rd person
Past
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had satisfiedperfect
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was satisfyingprogressive singular
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had been satisfyingperfect progressive
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were satisfyingprogressive plural
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satisfiedsimple
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satisfiedparticiple
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.”
Vocabulary lists containing satisfy
Power Suffix: -fy
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"The Weary Blues" by Langston Hughes
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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.
Ciena will still need to keep growing to satisfy Wall Street, though.
From Barron's • Jun. 4, 2026
It makes Nana happy to see so many Mexican-inspired restaurants in the mainstream, which not only satisfy our shared palettes but also serve as unofficial ambassadors of the good of Mexico.
From Salon • Jun. 3, 2026
“We have sufficient capacity to provide compute for our own AI models, including support of our training and inference demands, and to satisfy the obligations under these agreements,” SpaceX said in its filing.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 1, 2026
When a new treasurer and other elected officials did raise financial concerns they have said they could not get access to the level of detail they needed to satisfy themselves there was nothing wrong.
From BBC • May 31, 2026
They wanted to destroy everything to satisfy their stupid pride.
From "A Girl Named Disaster" by Nancy Farmer
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.
