satisfy

[ sat-is-fahy ]
See synonyms for: satisfysatisfiedsatisfiessatisfying on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object),sat·is·fied, sat·is·fy·ing.
  1. to fulfill the desires, expectations, needs, or demands of (a person, the mind, etc.); give full contentment to:The hearty meal satisfied him.

  2. to put an end to (a desire, want, need, etc.) by sufficient or ample provision: The hearty meal satisfied his hunger.

  1. to give assurance to; convince: to satisfy oneself by investigation.

  2. to answer sufficiently, as an objection.

  3. to solve or dispel, as a doubt.

  4. to discharge fully (a debt, obligation, etc.).

  5. to make reparation to or for: to satisfy an offended person; to satisfy a wrong.

  6. to pay (a creditor).

  7. 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.
  1. to give satisfaction.

Origin of satisfy

1
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

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

Words Nearby satisfy

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use satisfy in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for satisfy

satisfy

/ (ˈsætɪsˌfaɪ) /


verb-fies, -fying or -fied (mainly tr)
  1. (also intr) to fulfil the desires or needs of (a person)

  2. to provide amply for (a need or desire)

  1. to relieve of doubt; convince

  2. to dispel (a doubt)

  3. to make reparation to or for

  4. to discharge or pay off (a debt) to (a creditor)

  5. to fulfil the requirements of; comply with: you must satisfy the terms of your lease

  6. 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

1
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

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