gratify

[ grat-uh-fahy ]
See synonyms for: gratifygratifiedgratifying on Thesaurus.com

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

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

  1. Obsolete. to reward; remunerate.

Origin of gratify

1
1350–1400; Middle English gratifien<Latin grātificāre, equivalent to grāt(us) pleasing + -i--i- + -ficāre-fy

synonym study For gratify

1, 2. See humor.

Other words for gratify

Other words from gratify

  • grat·i·fi·a·ble, adjective
  • grat·i·fi·ed·ly [grat-uh-fahy-id-lee, -fahyd-], /ˈgræt əˌfaɪ ɪd li, -ˌfaɪd-/, adverb
  • grat·i·fi·er, noun
  • o·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, adjective
  • un·grat·i·fied, adjective
  • well-grat·i·fied, adjective

Words that may be confused with gratify

Words Nearby gratify

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use gratify in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for gratify

gratify

/ (ˈɡrætɪˌfaɪ) /


verb-fies, -fying or -fied (tr)
  1. to satisfy or please

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

  1. obsolete to reward

Origin of gratify

1
C16: from Latin grātificārī to do a favour to, from grātus grateful + facere to make

Derived forms of gratify

  • gratifier, noun

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