ingratiate
Americanverb (used with object)
verb
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of ingratiate
First recorded in 1615–25; perhaps from Latin in grātiam “into favor,” after Italian ingraziare; see in, grace, -ate 1
Explanation
To ingratiate is to make obvious efforts to gain someone's favor, in other words — to kiss up to someone. Ingratiate has not strayed much from its Latin roots, in gratiam, (in plus gratia meaning "favor") which means "in favor" or "for the favor of." To ingratiate is to gain the favor of someone by doing lots of favors to the point of being a nudge. Like the teacher's pet who answers every question, stays after class to clean the chalkboard, and brings the teacher an apple every day. When you ingratiate yourself to people, you risk annoying them — like a little dog nipping at their heels.
Vocabulary lists containing ingratiate
The Vocabulary.com Top 1000
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
The Great Gatsby
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
See Examples For:
“If you’re gonna ingratiate yourself into the community, the first steps are the biggest ones, so having someone reluctantly sell to you is not the way to go,” he said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 16, 2026
This was a way to further ingratiate himself to the man who called him “Johnny.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 6, 2026
Her notes outline plans to found an international bank, buy a Swedish castle, and even to ingratiate herself with a British duke.
From BBC ● Nov. 10, 2025
Instead, he’s taken a different route to ingratiate himself to the watchful eyes of voters, pulling practical jokes and fascinating hijinks similar to his Instagram livestream at different premieres.
From Salon ● Jan. 28, 2025
But I didn't know how to ingratiate myself with the cool kids.
From "Americanized" by Sara Saedi
Fifa president Gianni Infantino has ingratiated himself with United States President Donald Trump over the past two years.
From BBC ● Jun. 9, 2026
El Dorado is controlled by a gangster known only by his first name, Fabio, a Pablo Escobar-type character who has ingratiated himself with locals through acts of charity.
From Barron's ● Jun. 4, 2026
In a series of maneuvers fit for a John le Carré story, Mercader slowly ingratiated himself into the Trotsky household.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 27, 2026
Paradis had ingratiated himself at City Hall, befriending top city officials.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 12, 2024
The snow had ingratiated itself with the ruins of walls and memory of a roof, and it made it seem like the small dark-brown house had sprung out of the snow itself.
From "Breadcrumbs" by Anne Ursu
To begin with, there’s its ingratiating style, leisurely but leavened with wit and chutzpah, as well as Fiedler’s pervasive disdain for the sentimental and ersatz.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 22, 2026
He would begin a performance with Glass at the piano, bestowing an ingratiating quality of quiet pleasure on Ginsberg’s flowery imagery.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 21, 2026
The theory, perhaps, is that ingratiating themselves to the locals during this week's tune-ups might soften the vitriol which comes their way over the weekend.
From BBC ● Sep. 24, 2025
In person he’s ingratiating, charming, eager to please.
From Slate ● Oct. 26, 2024
This, despite her easily hurt look, her ingratiating ways.
From "Cat's Eye" by Margaret Atwood
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.
