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

There was also "insufficient supporting evidence to satisfy concerns around the potential impact of the proposal on biodiversity and the natural environment", the council said.

From BBC ● Aug. 11, 2026

Athletes must be student athletes, satisfy academic requirements, not be professionals, comply with federal and state law and compete for no more than five years nor beyond age 24.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 10, 2026

Whatever the verdict is, it is unlikely to satisfy those close to Shakur.

From Barron's ● Aug. 10, 2026

You probably have a lot of questions, and “One Night Only” is only going to satisfy some of them.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 6, 2026

In the afternoon, the two elder Miss Bennets were able to be for half-an-hour by themselves; and Elizabeth instantly availed herself of the opportunity of making many enquiries, which Jane was equally eager to satisfy.

From "Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen

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

The delicate diplomatic effort is being led by Michael Needham, a senior state department official who has been tasked with crafting a deal that satisfies Trump while also respecting Denmark's redlines around protecting its borders.

From BBC ● May 12, 2026

It still satisfies you and, even better, it appears to serve you more than you serve it.

From MarketWatch ● Feb. 19, 2026

Redlands school officials said the suspension of privileges will remain in place until a student satisfies certain conditions, such as attending a session of Saturday school or performing four hours of community service.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 16, 2026

The intelligent beings in these regions should therefore not be surprised if they observe that their locality in the universe satisfies the conditions that are necessary for their existence.

From "A Brief History of Time: And Other Essays" by Stephen Hawking

Choosing more water-rich, high-fiber plant foods may help people lower their calorie intake while still eating enough to feel satisfied.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 17, 2026

When the Parole Board approved Razzell's release on licence in April, it said in a statement that the "panel was satisfied that imprisonment was no longer necessary for the protection of the public".

From BBC ● Aug. 14, 2026

What you lose is the offset, or the amount that would have satisfied the RMD anyway.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 14, 2026

Executives told investors that they weren’t satisfied, and they expected a new menu item to lift business later this year.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 11, 2026

“I’m finished,” she called out when she was satisfied with the painting.

From "Rickshaw Girl" by Mitali Perkins

A low-fat vegan diet can reduce the energy density of the foods people eat by about 30%, helping them consume fewer calories while still eating satisfying amounts of food.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 17, 2026

A quietly captivating Willem Dafoe plays Ed Saxberger, a New York post office veteran of 37 years in a seemingly satisfying if decidedly low-key existence.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 14, 2026

The summer program features the American debut of Tobias Picker’s “Lili Elbe” alongside satisfying stagings of “Rodelinda,” “The Magic Flute,” “Eugene Onegin” and “Madama Butterfly.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 11, 2026

"It's great fun and really satisfying when you've managed to feed all those families as well."

From BBC ● Aug. 11, 2026

However, because of the lack of pure intervals, some musicians do not find it satisfying.

From "Understanding Basic Music Theory" by Catherine Schmidt-Jones and Russel Jones

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