gratitude
Americannoun
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of gratitude
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Medieval Latin grātitūdin-, stem of grātitūdō “thankfulness,” equivalent to grāt(us) “pleasing” + -i- + -tūdō -tude
Compare meaning
How does gratitude compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
Gratitude means thanks and appreciation. It's the warm feeling you get when someone helps you figure out a great solution to a difficult problem that you've been trying to solve. Though they both recognize the instrumental roles others have played in our lives, gratitude is different from indebtedness. Gratitude, which rhymes with "attitude," comes from the Latin word gratus, which means "thankful, pleasing." When you feel gratitude, you're pleased by what someone did for you and also pleased by the results. Unlike indebtedness, you're not anxious about having to pay it back. But it's still great to tell the recipient of your gratitude how much they mean to you.
Vocabulary lists containing gratitude
Veterans Day Vocabulary
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Sojourner Truth's "Ain't I A Woman?" (1863)
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November Words
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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.
It’s about gratitude and respect for you and your husband, especially given that you do so much for your daughter, including minding her own daughter.
From MarketWatch • Jul. 1, 2026
"My gratitude to companies across industries who continue to work closely with the White House to implement the President's" executive order on AI and cybersecurity, Wiles said.
From Barron's • Jul. 1, 2026
“In effect, as the recipient of his gratitude, it’s her turn to give back and say yes to his request.”
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 30, 2026
Each room explores a different human emotion — joy and love, fear and hope, sadness and gratitude, anger and resilience.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 29, 2026
Father sings the blessings of gratitude after our meal, and my brothers and other men sing with him.
From "Across So Many Seas" by Ruth Behar
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.
