gratify

American  

[grat-uh-fahy] / ˈgræt əˌfaɪ /

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.

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gratify British  

/ ˈɡrætɪˌfaɪ /

verb

1. to satisfy or please

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

3. obsolete to reward

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Related Words

See humor.

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

Etymology

Origin of gratify

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

Example Sentences

Her dad said watching her come out and transition has been gratifying, because “the smile came back, the light in her eyes came back.”

From Los Angeles Times

This outcome is rare in the contemporary dating scene, but “Heated Rivalry” gratifies the hope that such a future is possible.

From Salon

“Dopamine,” he writes, “the chemical in the brain that causes a gratifying, potentially addictive emotion, is triggered by the pursuit of a reward,” not the winning itself.

From The Wall Street Journal

“I’ve heard it said numerous times: That’s where the blues comes from. And as an actor who participated in that moment, communicating that is extraordinary and profoundly gratifying.”

From Los Angeles Times

Rights groups called it a death sentence for the 78-year-old, whose family has raised concerns about his health, but Hong Kong's leader said it was "deeply gratifying".

From BBC

Related Words

• delight
• enchant
• please
• thrill