gratulate

[ grach-uh-leyt ]

/ ˈgrætʃ əˌleɪt /

Archaic.

Save This Word!

verb (used with object), grat·u·lat·ed, grat·u·lat·ing.

to hail with joy; express joy at.

to congratulate.

verb (used without object), grat·u·lat·ed, grat·u·lat·ing.

to express joy.

QUIZ

WILL YOU SAIL OR STUMBLE ON THESE GRAMMAR QUESTIONS?

Smoothly step over to these common grammar mistakes that trip many people up. Good luck!

Question 1 of 7

Fill in the blank: I can’t figure out _____ gave me this gift.

who

whom

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of gratulate

1550–60; <Latin grātulātus (past participle of grātulārī to express joy), equivalent to grātul- express joy, congratulate, thank (derivative of grātus pleasing) + -ātus-ate¹

OTHER WORDS FROM gratulate

grat·u·la·to·ri·ly

[grach-uh-luh-tawr-uh-lee, -tohr-], /ˈgrætʃ ə ləˌtɔr ə li, -ˌtoʊr-/, adverbgrat·u·la·to·ry, adjective

Words nearby gratulate

gratuitous, gratuitous contract, gratuitously, gratuity, gratulant, gratulate, gratulation, Graubünden, Grauer's gorilla, graunch, graupel

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use gratulate in a sentence

"Con—gratulate you, young man," he said, holding out his hand.
The Black Opal|Katharine Susannah Prichard
Much joy I hope you'l find, we came to gratulate your new knit marriage-band.
Wit Without Money|Francis Beaumont
And now let me gratulate you upon the renovated vigor of your fine old friends the Russians.
Memoirs of the Life of Sir Walter Scott, Volume 4 (of 10)|John Gibson Lockhart.
Nor did they less gratulate the inferior officers and soldiers, who had exposed themselves most to those dangers.
Historical Parallels, vol 3 (of 3)|Arthur Thomas Malkin

These Letters do gratulate and remembre the ioy of the disciple for hauinge sutch a maister.
The Palace of Pleasure|William Painter

British Dictionary definitions for gratulate

gratulate

/ (ˈɡrætjʊˌleɪt) /

verb (tr) archaic

to greet joyously

to congratulate

Derived forms of gratulate

gratulant, adjectivegratulation, noungratulatory, adjective

Word Origin for gratulate

C16: from Latin grātulārī, from grātus pleasing

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