ingratiate

American

[in-grey-shee-eyt] / ɪnˈgreɪ ʃiˌeɪt /

verb (used with object)

ingratiated, ingratiating

to establish (oneself or another person) in the favor or good graces of someone, especially by deliberate effort (usually followed bywith ).

He ingratiated himself with all the guests.
She ingratiated her colleagues with her well-researched project proposal.

ingratiate British

/ ɪnˈɡreɪʃɪˌeɪt /

verb

to place (oneself) purposely in the favour (of another)

"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

Other Word Forms

ingratiating adjective
ingratiatingly adverb
ingratiation noun
ingratiatory adjective

Etymology

Origin of ingratiate

First recorded in 1615–25; perhaps from Latin in grātiam “into favor,” after Italian ingraziare; in, grace, -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.

Separately, Mr Hampshire also reflected on his worries about people trying to ingratiate themselves with Andrew "in order to make excessive money out the Duke or their association with him".

From BBC • Apr. 4, 2025

But while individuals may flatter him and ingratiate themselves, the market doesn’t.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 4, 2025

During their first meeting as part of a new company-wide mentorship program, Samuel matches Romy’s slippery intensity, and his reluctance to ingratiate himself intrigues her.

From Salon • Dec. 30, 2024

They were just dudes from Aberdeen and they had to ingratiate themselves into the Seattle scene.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 15, 2024

But I didn't know how to ingratiate myself with the cool kids.

From "Americanized" by Sara Saedi

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023