congratulate
Americanverb (used with object)
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congratulates,
present (3rd person singular)
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congratulated,
past participle, past
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congratulating
present participle
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to express pleasure to (a person), as on a happy occasion.
They congratulated him on his marriage.
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Archaic. to express sympathetic joy or satisfaction at (an event).
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Obsolete. to salute.
verb
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(usually foll by on) to communicate pleasure, approval, or praise to (a person or persons); compliment
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(often foll by on) to consider (oneself) clever or fortunate (as a result of)
she congratulated herself on her tact
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obsolete to greet
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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congratulationnoun
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congratulatornoun
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precongratulateverb (used with object)
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congratulatoryadjective
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uncongratulatedadjective
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uncongratulatingadjective
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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congratulatesimple
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congratulatessimple
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have congratulatedperfect
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has congratulatedperfect
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am congratulatingprogressive
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are congratulatingprogressive
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is congratulatingprogressive
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have been congratulatingperfect progressive
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has been congratulatingperfect progressive
Past
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congratulatedsimple
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had congratulatedperfect
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was congratulatingprogressive
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were congratulatingprogressive
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had been congratulatingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of congratulate
1540–50; < Latin congrātulātus, past participle of congrātulārī. See congratulant, -ate 1
Explanation
When you congratulate someone, you give that person praise — or maybe even a party to congratulate him or her on a job well done. The word congratulate is linked to the Latin word congratulari, meaning “wish joy.” When you congratulate someone, you wish him or her joy, usually to celebrate an accomplishment or good fortune. Your joy can take the form of verbal praise (“Well done!”), a letter or card offering good wishes, a rowdy high five, or even a big chocolate cake. You can also congratulate yourself for reaching a long-time goal.
Vocabulary lists containing congratulate
"Raymond's Run"
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"A Poem for My Librarian, Mrs. Long," Vocabulary from the poem
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Week 1: Cultural Exchange
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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:
In 2013, Epstein received an automated note from LinkedIn that he should congratulate Clark for her new role as CEO of Female Algorithm Technologies.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026
"I want to congratulate my good friend Bob Iger and Josh Kushner on their purchase of the Los Angeles Lakers!"
From Barron's ● Aug. 12, 2026
I’d like to congratulate Mel Brooks on making it to the age of 100, but I’m not sure I want to duplicate his achievement.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 1, 2026
Goldman said he had called Lander to congratulate him, according to the BBC's US news partner CBS.
From BBC ● Jun. 24, 2026
Tradition has it that if we win the home game the day of the Winter Ball, everyone pours out onto the ice to congratulate us.
From "Tradition" by Brendan Kiely
That he, upon getting punched in the crotch by Johnny Cage, congratulates the latter on having stellar technique makes about as much sense as anything else on offer here.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 7, 2026
"Spain congratulates the new president of Honduras and expresses its full willingness to continue working with the people and government of Honduras," the Spanish foreign ministry said in a statement.
From Barron's ● Dec. 25, 2025
A nurse congratulates the family and hands over an administrative packet.
From Slate ● Jun. 27, 2025
After running a device that looks like an ultrasound scanner across our reporter’s stomach, a sound like a heartbeat is heard and "Dr Ruth" congratulates her on being pregnant.
From BBC ● Nov. 24, 2024
“This is good news,” Emma whispers to me while the rest of my family congratulates Andre on being a somewhat likable person.
From "South of Somewhere" by Kalena Miller
On Saturday I addressed the crew, congratulated them on a magnificent job, and sent them home.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 16, 2026
Activist investor Elliott Management in a statement congratulated Kruger on his coming move and said it was confident Zebedee was the right successor, bringing with him continuity and momentum.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 6, 2026
Kaye congratulated the client and a wave of applause filled the courtroom.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 29, 2026
Mitsotakis congratulated the British director in a teleconference on Monday on the success of the movie that has renewed internatational interest in Homer's ancient epic.
From Barron's ● Jul. 28, 2026
I remember the people behind me cheered and congratulated him.
From "Marcus Vega Doesn't Speak Spanish" by Pablo Cartaya
"The tide is turning," Sanders posted on X, congratulating Kiros for her "extraordinary victory" over a 30-year incumbent.
From Barron's ● Jul. 1, 2026
Redick held back tears when general manager Rob Pelinka presented him with the game ball in the locker room on March 31 and showed a video of Redick’s sons, Knox and Kai, congratulating their dad.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 9, 2026
U.S. fan Andrew Weinfeld entered FIFA’s World Cup ticket lottery last year, and in November received an email congratulating him for being selected.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 29, 2026
Pupil A told the hearing Williams was "more interested in congratulating try scorers rather than checking injured players."
From BBC ● Apr. 21, 2026
An officer was congratulating the Three Musketeers, telling them that he was going to put them in for Bronze Stars.
From "Slaughterhouse-Five" by Kurt Vonnegut
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.
