gratulate
Americanverb (used with object)
-
to hail with joy; express joy at.
-
to congratulate.
verb (used without object)
verb
-
to greet joyously
-
to congratulate
Other Word Forms
Etymology
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 -ate 1
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.
The king himself is come in person hither; Dear Aunt, descend, and gratulate his highness.
From King Edward III by Shakespeare (spurious and doubtful works)
Upon thy sacred purple, barr'd with fire, I gratulate thee—glorious, lov'd attire!
From The Complete Works of Richard Crashaw, Volume II (of 2) by Crashaw, Richard
There was ironic fatality in the accident which checked this tide of gratulate reflection.
From Joan Thursday by Vance, Louis Joseph
Shadwell, moreover, had not failed to hail the dawn of the Revolution by a congratulatory poem to the Prince of Orange, and to gratulate its completion by another inscribed to Queen Mary on her arrival.
From The Dramatic Works of John Dryden, Volume 1 With a Life of the Author by Saintsbury, George
Belf. Let us haste To gratulate his conquest. 1st Capt. We to mourn The fortune of the son.
From Vice Versa or A Lesson to Fathers by Anstey, F.
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.
