Synonyms

satisfy

American

[sat-is-fahy] / ˈsæt ɪsˌfaɪ /

verb (used with object)

to fulfill the desires, expectations, needs, or demands of (a person, the mind, etc.); give full contentment to.

The hearty meal satisfied him.

Synonyms:

please, pacify, appease, gratify
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.

Synonyms:

persuade
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.
1. to fulfill the requirements or conditions of.
  
  to satisfy a theorem.
2. (of a value of an unknown) to change (an equation) into an identity when substituted for the unknown: x = 2 satisfies 3 x = 6.

verb (used without object)

to give satisfaction.

satisfy British

/ ˈsætɪsˌfaɪ /

verb

(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

"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

Synonym Usage

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 Word Forms

Derived Forms

Inflected Forms

Participles

Conjugated Forms

Present

Past

Future

Etymology

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

Explanation

To satisfy is to fulfill or meet a want, need, requirement, or expectation. A brilliant paper on Edgar Allan Poe might satisfy a literature class requirement, and a candy bar might satisfy a craving for chocolate. Since there are so many things we need and want, there are lots of ways to satisfy us. Eating a sandwich will satisfy your hunger. Overhearing a conversation could satisfy your curiosity. Going to school should satisfy your desire for knowledge. In college, you'll have to take certain classes to satisfy requirements of your degree. The word comes from the Latin satisfacere, which basically means “do enough.”

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

Vocabulary lists containing satisfy

Power Suffix: -fy

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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:

satisfy satisfies satisfied satisfying

In addition to dragging the pieces into place, much of the opening episode seems meant to satisfy an impulse to show off Kansas City — Sudeikis grew up in that area.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 5, 2026

Millions of investors wanted the stock, but relatively few shares were available to satisfy that demand.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 3, 2026

But Blanche's public statements to senators that the proposal had been scrapped were not enough to satisfy the Republican holdouts.

From BBC ● Aug. 3, 2026

Earlier in the day, the official said the department had sent Cornyn’s office a written proposal that it believed would satisfy his demands, a department official said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 29, 2026

It was a night flight and Bull Meecham had flown from Ravenel to Key West, an out and in flight that would satisfy the requirement of four hours night flying a month.

From "The Great Santini" by Pat Conroy

Gregg, Mandery writes, “created the bedrock principles of modern death penalty jurisprudence: that a non-arbitrary death penalty satisfies the Constitution and that the requirement of non-arbitrariness could be satisfied by Georgia’s approach.”

From Slate ● Jun. 8, 2026

“I know they’re thinking very, very seriously about how to manage the ticket activity so that it satisfies everybody,” Sykes said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 15, 2026

"The decision satisfies me with regard to the violation of my private life," he told the BBC.

From BBC ● Feb. 26, 2026

That approach shortens supply chains, satisfies local regulations, and stabilizes market access.

From Barron's ● Jan. 23, 2026

“I have thought of many possible theories, but not one that really satisfies me.”

From "Murder on the Orient Express" by Agatha Christie

After riding the Mitochondria, he decided to keep going — making a path up each street and block — until he was satisfied.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 4, 2026

Have you noticed that even though your every whim can be satisfied with the tap of a screen, you feel unsatisfied quite a lot of the time?

From Slate ● Aug. 3, 2026

"I have not heard any negative opinions ... everyone is rather satisfied," Renata Golebiewska, mayor of Kikol, told AFP.

From Barron's ● Jul. 27, 2026

The real-estate industry was also satisfied with the appointment of Shorris after months of hand-wringing over who the administration would select to carry out a vision of “economic justice.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 22, 2026

The Louvre hired a firm that specialized in glazing, the art of glass fitting and sizing, but even these skilled workmen had to redo the job multiple times before the curators were satisfied.

From "The Mona Lisa Vanishes" by Nicholas Day

An oddly satisfying word game: If you’re a fan of crosswords, we have a new twist for you.

From Slate ● Aug. 4, 2026

I grated a ripe tomato into a bowl, an operation I find disproportionately satisfying.

From Salon ● Aug. 1, 2026

It will be particularly satisfying as that was an event she had worked hard at improving heading into 2026.

From BBC ● Jul. 29, 2026

Generously sized and steered toward realism, the director’s take on Odysseus is epically satisfying, even if it skimps on the character’s ego and lust.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 26, 2026

The reaction from the crowd was so satisfying to Moss in that moment, and he had his friends to thank.

From "Anger Is a Gift" by Mark Oshiro

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