gratify

[ grat-uh-fahy ]

/ ˈgræt əˌfaɪ /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR gratify ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object), grat·i·fied, grat·i·fy·ing.

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.

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

Obsolete. to reward; remunerate.

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ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PUNCTUATION QUIZ

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Question 1 of 10

Which punctuation mark is best for this sentence? "Can I watch a movie __"

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Origin of gratify

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

SYNONYMS FOR gratify

1 please, delight, gladden.

1, 2 See humor.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR gratify ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM gratify

grat·i·fi·a·ble, adjectivegrat·i·fi·ed·ly

[grat-uh-fahy-id-lee, -fahyd-] /ˈgræt əˌfaɪ ɪd li, -ˌfaɪd-/, adverbgrat·i·fi·er, nouno·ver·grat·i·fy, verb (used with object), o·ver·grat·i·fied, o·ver·grat·i·fy·ing.

pre·grat·i·fy, verb (used with object), pre·grat·i·fied, pre·grat·i·fy·ing.su·per·grat·i·fy, verb (used with object), su·per·grat·i·fied, su·per·grat·i·fy·ing.un·grat·i·fi·a·ble, adjectiveun·grat·i·fied, adjectivewell-grat·i·fied, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH gratify

grateful gratified (see synonym study at grateful)

Words nearby gratify

grater, gratiae, gratian, graticule, gratification, gratify, gratifying, gratin, gratinate, gratinated, grating

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for gratify

Most of the meddlers in our lives do it to gratify their own egos or because they mistakenly believe they are helping.
America’s Meddlers Are Our Worst Enemies|Stefan Beck|October 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
His reception was very enthusiastic, and seemed to gratify him very much.
The Every-day Life of Abraham Lincoln|Francis Fisher Browne
As wants differ in kind and degree, so goods differ in their power to gratify wants.
The Principles of Economics|Frank A. Fetter
Diodorus, however, ascribes them to Cyrus; and states that he built them to gratify a courtezan.
Ruins of Ancient Cities (Vol. I of II)|Charles Bucke

Of these varieties, the following are distinct, and possess many charming qualities that cannot fail to gratify the amateur.
Parsons on the Rose|Samuel Browne Parsons
What I am now going to tell you is not a mere tale to gratify curiosity.
Working in the Shade|Theodore P Wilson

British Dictionary definitions for gratify

gratify

/ (ˈɡrætɪˌfaɪ) /

verb -fies, -fying or -fied (tr)

to satisfy or please

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

obsolete to reward

Derived forms of gratify

gratifier, noun

Word Origin for gratify

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

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

gratify

verb (used with object), grat·i·fied, grat·i·fy·ing.

QUIZZES

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PUNCTUATION QUIZ

Origin of gratify

SYNONYMS FOR gratify

OTHER WORDS FROM gratify

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH gratify

Words nearby gratify

Words related to gratify

Example sentences from the Web for gratify

British Dictionary definitions for gratify

verb -fies, -fying or -fied (tr)

Derived forms of gratify

Word Origin for gratify