thankful
Americanadjective
adjective
Synonym Usage
See grateful.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of thankful
First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English thancful; see thank, -ful
Compare meaning
How does thankful compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
On Thanksgiving, we remember to be thankful, showing and feeling our thanks for the meal and company in front of us. When you are thankful, you're full of thanks. It's a word that expresses either a feeling or showing of gratitude. You can be thankful that the long week is over, or you can give a thankful smile to your boss when she says you can leave a few hours early.
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.
Lienhard, who has guided teams to five City Section championships, said he was thankful to his players, their parents and community members for their support.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 15, 2026
Evans said he was "thankful" the club only needed to sell one player in order to come into line with the regulations.
From BBC ● Sep. 11, 2026
“I give credit to my faith in God. I’m thankful I was raised with two great parents. I’m also grateful I was born in this country.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 1, 2026
“I feel like I’ve reached a stage where I’ve got quite a lot of money saved. My wife, Maddy, and I are in good shape. We’re thankful for that.”
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 23, 2026
In the meantime, I was so thankful that I’d found his letter on my twelfth birthday, and that he was in my life now, where he belonged.
From "From the Desk of Zoe Washington" by Janae Marks
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
