congratulations
Britishplural noun
Explanation
"Kudos," "well-done," and other words of praise are forms of congratulations, or an expression of approval and acclaim. Congratulations are expressed for good wishes on a special occasion, not just an accomplishment. For example, you wouldn't tell someone who just had a baby, "Good job on your accomplishment," but you would say, "Congratulations!" If, however, someone says "congratulations!" when you drop your ice cream cone or get a bad grade on your math test, they're probably being sarcastic.
Vocabulary lists containing congratulations
A Graduation Lexicon
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Commonly Misspelled Words, List 6
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List 3
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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.
"A huge congratulations to the whole group; we wish them many more happy memories ahead," said Andy Carter, from Allwyn, operator of The National Lottery.
From BBC • Apr. 1, 2026
"A nomination is an extraordinary achievement, and I extend my warmest congratulations to every nominee for their innovation, hard work and resilience."
From BBC • Mar. 12, 2026
Top Iranian politicians — the president, foreign minister and parliament speaker — sent effusive congratulations to Khamenei.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 9, 2026
There’s Breezy Johnson’s gold in the women’s downhill, which was supplemented a couple of days later by her boyfriend’s slopeside engagement proposal, and a congratulations from another bride-to-be, Taylor Swift.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 15, 2026
A few days later I received another letter of congratulations, this time from Stan Smith: Professor Killion had informed him about my scholarship award.
From "Kaffir Boy: An Autobiography" by Mark Mathabane
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.
