satisfy

[ sat-is-fahy ]

See synonyms for: satisfy satisfied satisfies satisfying on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object),sat·is·fied, sat·is·fy·ing.

to fulfill the desires, expectations, needs, or demands of (a person, the mind, etc.); give full contentment to: The hearty meal satisfied him.
to put an end to (a desire, want, need, etc.) by sufficient or ample provision: The hearty meal satisfied his hunger.

to give assurance to; convince: to satisfy oneself by investigation.
to answer sufficiently, as an objection.
to solve or dispel, as a doubt.
to discharge fully (a debt, obligation, etc.).
to make reparation to or for: to satisfy an offended person; to satisfy a wrong.
to pay (a creditor).
Mathematics.
- to fulfill the requirements or conditions of: to satisfy a theorem.
- (of a value of an unknown) to change (an equation) into an identity when substituted for the unknown: x = 2 satisfies 3x = 6.

verb (used without object),sat·is·fied, sat·is·fy·ing.

to give satisfaction.

Origin of satisfy

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English satisfien, from Middle French satisfier, from unattested Vulgar Latin satisficāre (for Latin satisfacere “to do enough”; see satisfaction); see -fy

synonym study For satisfy

1. Satisfy, content refer to meeting one's desires or wishes. To satisfy is to meet to the full one's wants, expectations, etc.: to satisfy a desire to travel. To content is to give enough to keep one from being disposed to find fault or complain: to content oneself with a moderate meal.

Other words for satisfy

1	gratify, appease, pacify, please
3	persuade

See synonyms for satisfy on Thesaurus.com

Other words from satisfy

sat·is·fi·a·ble, adjective
sat·is·fi·er, noun
sat·is·fy·ing·ly, adverb
sat·is·fy·ing·ness, noun
non·sat·is·fy·ing, adjective
out·sat·is·fy, verb (used with object), out·sat·is·fied, out·sat·is·fy·ing.
pre·sat·is·fy, verb (used with object), pre·sat·is·fied, pre·sat·is·fy·ing.
su·per·sat·is·fy, verb (used with object), su·per·sat·is·fied, su·per·sat·is·fy·ing.
un·sat·is·fi·a·ble, adjective

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

How to use satisfy in a sentence

Its side lengths fail to satisfy the triangle inequality theorem, which states that the sum of any two sides must be greater than the third.
Some Math Problems Seem Impossible. That Can Be a Good Thing. | Patrick Honner | November 18, 2020 | Quanta Magazine
Climate migrants and community “long timers” satisfy growing populations by farming vertically, mass producing food, and creating inexpensive housing with 3D printing.
Why We Need a Collective Vision to Design the Future of Health | Abner Mason | November 11, 2020 | Singularity Hub
The explanation has not satisfied some voters, who started calling state and registrar’s offices as early as election night.
Virginia elections officials say social media posts led to unfounded fears, confusion about ballot counting | Laura Vozzella, Antonio Olivo, Gregory S. Schneider | November 5, 2020 | Washington Post
Hawley has since said this litmus test has been satisfied and that he supports Barrett.
More evasive answers from Amy Coney Barrett | Aaron Blake | October 21, 2020 | Washington Post
My new feature for Fortune aims to satisfy that question by closely examining Fraser’s career.
Jane Fraser’s two-pronged approach to becoming Citi’s next CEO | Claire Zillman, reporter | October 20, 2020 | Fortune

You have said that nothing frightens you as much as writing, but nothing satisfies you as much either.
Maya Angelou: How I Write | Noah Charney | April 10, 2013 | THE DAILY BEAST
Rushkoff seems here to be looking for the minority report, the one interpretation that satisfies his model.
Not Much New in Douglas Rushkoff’s Reading of the Future | Jacob Silverman | March 26, 2013 | THE DAILY BEAST
The shock horror satisfies our cravings for conflict and yet justifies our comfy suburban disconnect.
Despite Viral Attack Video, British Crime Rates Are Down | Peter Jukes | November 25, 2012 | THE DAILY BEAST
Ultimately, Shas will go with whoever satisfies its demand for financial support for a largely low-income constituency.
Bread And Butter Take Center Stage | Shira Herzog | October 31, 2012 | THE DAILY BEAST
It has been hard enough to find a compromise that satisfies both the U.S. and Iran.
Obama, Iran, and the ‘Jewish Vote’ | Trita Parsi | June 12, 2012 | THE DAILY BEAST
The suggested emendation satisfies the conditions, and makes better sense.
Chaucer's Works, Volume 1 (of 7) -- Romaunt of the Rose; Minor Poems | Geoffrey Chaucer
Porridge is a food which satisfies and strengthens, and which, it seems, is rich in bone-forming matter.
Friend Mac Donald | Max O'Rell
That is a sad condition of things, but one which fully satisfies the greater part of the dwellers on your planet.
Urania | Camille Flammarion
For these show the wants of the religious sense, and Christianity, they maintain, purifies and satisfies them all.
The Myths of the New World | Daniel G. Brinton
The evidence satisfies me that the officers did their work very well and without any thought of themselves.
Loss of the Steamship 'Titanic' | British Government

British Dictionary definitions for satisfy

satisfy

/ (ˈsætɪsˌfaɪ) /

verb-fies, -fying or -fied (mainly tr)

(also intr) to fulfil the desires or needs of (a person)
to provide amply for (a need or desire)

to relieve of doubt; convince
to dispel (a doubt)
to make reparation to or for
to discharge or pay off (a debt) to (a creditor)
to fulfil the requirements of; comply with: you must satisfy the terms of your lease
maths logic to fulfil the conditions of (a theorem, assumption, etc); to yield a truth by substitution of the given value: x = 3 satisfies x² – 4x + 3 = 0

Origin of satisfy

C15: from Old French satisfier, from Latin satisfacere, from satis enough + facere to make, do

Derived forms of satisfy

satisfiable, adjective
satisfier, noun
satisfying, adjective
satisfyingly, adverb

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

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