gratify

[grat-uh-fahy]

verb (used with object)

gratified, gratifying 

1. to give pleasure to (a person or persons) by satisfying desires or humoring inclinations or feelings.

   Her praise will gratify all who worked so hard to earn it.

   Synonyms: gladden, delight, please

2. to satisfy; indulge; humor, as one's desires or appetites.

3. Obsolete.,  to reward; remunerate.

gratify

/ ˈɡrætɪˌfaɪ /

verb

1. to satisfy or please

2. to yield to or indulge (a desire, whim, etc)

3. obsolete,  to reward

Other Word Forms

• gratifiable adjective
• gratifiedly adverb
• gratifier noun
• overgratify verb (used with object)
• pregratify verb (used with object)
• supergratify verb (used with object)
• ungratifiable adjective
• ungratified adjective
• well-gratified adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of gratify¹

1350–1400; Middle English gratifien < Latin grātificāre, equivalent to grāt ( us ) pleasing + -i- -i- + -ficāre -fy

Word History and Origins

Origin of gratify¹

C16: from Latin grātificārī to do a favour to, from grātus grateful + facere to make

Synonym Study

See humor.

Example Sentences

When I asked El-Erian about the Fed, I was gratified to hear him address one of my pet peeves: the dim-bulb types who proudly declare themselves to be data-dependent, full stop.

Read more on Barron's

When I asked El-Erian about the Fed, I was gratified to hear him address one of my pet peeves: the dim-bulb types who proudly declare themselves to be data-dependent, full stop.

Read more on Barron's

It’s gratifying that it means that to so many people.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Woolley and Hood surely would be gratified by the Preservation Commission’s finding:

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

“The same group of people, the same kind of night, 30 years later. I feel incredibly gratified by that.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• delight 
• enchant 
• please 
• thrill