satisfy

[ sat-is-fahy ]

/ ˈsæt ɪsˌfaɪ /

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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.

OTHER WORDS FOR satisfy

1 gratify, appease, pacify, please.

3 persuade.

See synonyms for satisfy on Thesaurus.com

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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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 FROM satisfy

sat·is·fi·a·ble, adjectivesat·is·fi·er, nounsat·is·fy·ing·ly, adverbsat·is·fy·ing·ness, noun

non·sat·is·fy·ing, adjectiveout·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

satisfaction, satisfactory, satisfice, satisficing behaviour, satisfied, satisfy, sat nav, Sato, Sato Eisaku, satori, satrap

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

How to use satisfy in a sentence

The IRS can offset or take a person’s refund to satisfy those debts.
Tax season 2021: A tornado is coming|Michelle Singletary|February 12, 2021|Washington Post
Although Williams doesn’t need the Grand Slam record to cement her greatness, it would be satisfying for her and her fans if she completed the task.
How Serena Williams Could Finally Break The Grand Slam Record|Amy Lundy|February 10, 2021|FiveThirtyEight
The only thing in Kansas City more certain to satisfy than burnt ends at Q39 is Kelce on third down.
Travis Kelce is the best tight end in football. Just ask any NFL player.|Adam Kilgore|February 4, 2021|Washington Post
Not eating to feel something, or not feel something, or learn something, or report something, or achieve perfect health, or perform perfect taste, but eating to satisfy hunger and to heal, with absolutely no other restrictions in place.
Six Months of Soft Food Set Me Free|Meghan McCarron|February 2, 2021|Eater

Paul Bakaus from Google said, “a one- or two-page teaser for your blog post doesn’t tell a satisfying story to a reader, so Google will do its very best to not show these to users.”
Google may not display Web Stories that are teasers|Barry Schwartz|January 27, 2021|Search Engine Land
For those with a predilection for immaculately fine and delicate paintings by Botticelli, his Madonna of the Book will satisfy.
The Virgin Mary Lookbook|William O’Connor|December 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Smith, the current police chief, called Lee a “scapegoat” who was “thrown to the wolves” to satisfy political critics.
Florida Cops on What Ferguson Can Learn From Trayvon|Chris Francescani|November 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“Our criminal justice system requires that she be beaten enough to satisfy the system,” Gruelle says in Private Violence.
The Worst Question for Abuse Victims|Emily Shire|October 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Typically, Cumming says, the boys would be set an impossible task, or one whose completion would never satisfy their father.
Alan Cumming: The Truth About My Father|Tim Teeman|October 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The West trades on its iconography, and many writers satisfy the hunger for that epic, legendary place.
Book Bag: Gritty Stories From the Real Montana|Carrie La Seur|October 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Of course I had to satisfy the ruffian's insolent demands, but I did so under protest.
The Pit Town Coronet, Volume I (of 3)|Charles James Wills
But I reasoned with myself and managed to satisfy myself that he must have turned the chair round with his foot.
Uncanny Tales|Various
It loses all its value just as soon as there is enough of it to satisfy, and over-satisfy the wants of humanity.
The Unsolved Riddle of Social Justice|Stephen Leacock
It means enough not to satisfy them, and to leave the selling price of the things made at the point of profit.
The Unsolved Riddle of Social Justice|Stephen Leacock
But let it be noted that the "enough" here in question does not mean enough to satisfy human wants.
The Unsolved Riddle of Social Justice|Stephen Leacock

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 withyou 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 valuex = 3 satisfies x² – 4x + 3 = 0

Derived forms of satisfy

satisfiable, adjectivesatisfier, nounsatisfying, adjectivesatisfyingly, adverb

Word Origin for satisfy

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

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

satisfy

OTHER WORDS FOR satisfy

Origin of satisfy

synonym study for satisfy

OTHER WORDS FROM satisfy

Words nearby satisfy

Words related to satisfy

How to use satisfy in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for satisfy

Derived forms of satisfy

Word Origin for satisfy