congratulate

[kuh n-grach-uh-leyt or, often, -graj-, kuh ng-]

See more synonyms for congratulate on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), con·grat·u·lat·ed, con·grat·u·lat·ing.

to express pleasure to (a person), as on a happy occasion: They congratulated him on his marriage.
Archaic. to express sympathetic joy or satisfaction at (an event).
Obsolete. to salute.

Origin of congratulate

1540–50; < Latin congrātulātus, past participle of congrātulārī. See congratulant, -ate¹

Related formscon·grat·u·la·tor, nounpre·con·grat·u·late, verb (used with object), pre·con·grat·u·lat·ed, pre·con·grat·u·lat·ing.un·con·grat·u·lat·ed, adjectiveun·con·grat·u·lat·ing, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for congratulate

applaud, laud, praise, salute, felicitate, toast, stroke, bless, boost

Examples from the Web for congratulate

Contemporary Examples of congratulate

My beef is not with Jolie, whom I congratulate on her work, and admire as human being simply trying to do a little bit of good.
WTF Is Damgelina Doing At The Palace?
Tom Sykes
October 11, 2014
Other times I would say how wonderful it was to see him, and congratulate him on all the success that had come his way.
How Mork Melted the Fonz: Henry Winkler Recalls Robin Williams’s Storming ‘Happy Days’ Debut
Tim Teeman
August 12, 2014
The Miss Delaware Pageant is proud to congratulate Brittany and wishes Amanda the very best on her future endeavors.
24 Is Not Too “Old” to Compete for Miss America
Erin Cunningham
June 27, 2014
“I should congratulate Adriano for doing the best with what he had to work with,” Rangel said.
Charlie Rangel Dances On
Gideon Resnick
June 25, 2014
One day Ebadi arrived at the Ministry of Justice to congratulate the revolutionary officials who had taken power.
The Hijab Is Iran’s Most Cherished Weapon
IranWire
June 22, 2014

Historical Examples of congratulate

"I congratulate you, Miss Porter," he said, raising his hat.
Thoroughbreds
W. A. Fraser
When I meet that Woodville boy I'm going to congratulate him.
The Rock of Chickamauga
Joseph A. Altsheler
"I congratulate you on your success in evading it," observed Brentwick, undisturbed.
The Black Bag
Louis Joseph Vance
You have foiled me, and conquered: be it so; I congratulate you.
Alice, or The Mysteries, Complete
Edward Bulwer-Lytton
People would talk of it, approve of it, and congratulate him.
A Comedy of Marriage and Other Tales
Guy De Maupassant

British Dictionary definitions for congratulate

congratulate

verb (tr)

(usually foll by on) to communicate pleasure, approval, or praise to (a person or persons); compliment
(often foll by on) to consider (oneself) clever or fortunate (as a result of)she congratulated herself on her tact
obsolete to greet

Derived Formscongratulation, nouncongratulator, nouncongratulatory or congratulative, adjective

Word Origin for congratulate

C16: from Latin congrātulārī, from grātulārī to rejoice, from grātus pleasing

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

Word Origin and History for congratulate

1540s, from Latin congratulatus, past participle of congratulari "to congratulate" (see congratulation). Related: Congratulated; congratulating.