congratulate
Americanverb (used with object)
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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
- congratulation noun
- congratulator noun
- congratulatory adjective
- precongratulate verb (used with object)
- uncongratulated adjective
- uncongratulating adjective
Etymology
Origin of congratulate
1540–50; < Latin congrātulātus, past participle of congrātulārī. See congratulant, -ate 1
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.
After forcefully dominating the paint and protecting the rim in Crean Lutheran wins, the imposing big man beams as teammates, classmates and supporters congratulate him.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 2, 2026
The tall paceman bowled Brook with a yorker next ball, but did not celebrate wildly -- instead he immediately went to congratulate the England captain in a superb show of cricket sportmanship.
From Barron's • Feb. 24, 2026
“I’d like to thank and congratulate Justices Thomas, Alito and Kavanaugh for their strength and wisdom and love of our country.”
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 24, 2026
“Don’t congratulate John Roberts or the Supreme Court,” wrote legal journalist Cristian Farias, who has covered the tariffs for the New Yorker.
From Salon • Feb. 20, 2026
“Why do you continue to congratulate them when they can’t even respect you enough to say thank you?”
From "Proud" by Ibtihaj Muhammad
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.
