satisfy

sat·is·fy

verb \ˈsa-təs-ˌfī\

sat·is·fiedsat·is·fy·ing

Definition of SATISFY

transitive verb

1

a : to carry out the terms of (as a contract) : discharge

b : to meet a financial obligation to

2

: to make reparation to (an injured party) : indemnify

3

a : to make happy : please

b : to gratify to the full : appease

4

a : convince

b : to put an end to (doubt or uncertainty) : dispel

5

a : to conform to (as specifications) : be adequate to (an end in view)

b : to make true by fulfilling a condition <values that satisfy an equation> <satisfy a hypothesis>

intransitive verb

: to be adequate : suffice; also : please

— sat·is·fy·ing·ly \-iŋ-lē\ adverb

Examples of SATISFY

1. Nothing satisfies her so much as doing a good job.
2. The movie's ending failed to satisfy audiences.
3. His curiosity was satisfied by their explanation.
4. They have satisfied themselves that the story is only a rumor.

Origin of SATISFY

Middle English satisfien, from Anglo-French satisfier, modification of Latin satisfacere, from satis enough + facere to do, make — more at sad, do

First Known Use: 15th century

Related to SATISFY

Synonyms

assuage, quench, sate, satiate, slake

Antonyms

breach, break, transgress, violate

Related Words

cater (to), gratify, humor, indulge; alleviate, lighten, relieve; cloy, saturate, surfeit

Near Antonyms

arouse, excite, pique, stimulate; tantalize, tease

See Synonym Discussion at pay

Rhymes with SATISFY

abide by, Adonai, alibi, alkali, amplify, apple-pie, argufy, assegai, azo dye, basify, beautify, butterfly, by-and-by, caddis fly, calcify, certify, Chou En-lai, citify, clarify, classify, coalify, cockneyfy, codify, college try, cottage pie, crucify, cut-and-try, cutie-pie, DIY, damnify, damselfly, dandify, deify, densify, dignify, dobsonfly, do-or-die, dragonfly, dulcify, eagle eye, edify, evil eye, falsify, fancify, fortify, frenchify, fructify, gasify, Gemini, gentrify, glorify, goggle-eye, goldeneye, gratify, Haggai, harvest fly, hexerei, high and dry, hip and thigh, Hokusai, hook and eye, horrify, hoverfly, humble pie, Iceni, justify, kiss good-bye, lazy eye, lignify, liquefy, lithify, Lorelei, lullaby, Madurai, magnify, Malachi, Maracay, minify, modify, mollify, Molokai, Mordecai, mortify, multi-ply, multiply, mummify, mystify, nazify, notify, nullify, occupy, old school tie, on standby, on the fly, ossify, overbuy, overfly, overlie, pacify, Paraguay, passerby, peccavi, petrify, PPI, preachify, prettify, private eye, prophesy, purify, putrefy, qualify, quantify, ramify, rarefy, ratify, RBI, rectify, reify, res gestae, robber fly, runner's high, Russify, samurai, sanctify, scarify, schwarmerei, semidry, set store by, shepherd's pie, shoofly pie, signify, simplify, Spanish fly, specify, speechify, stratify, stultify, stupefy, sweetie pie, Tenebrae, terrify, testify, tie-and-dye, tigereye, Trans Alai, tumble dry, typify, uglify, underlie, unify, Uruguay, Veneti, verify, versify, vilify, vinify, vitrify, vivify, weather eye, Windsor tie, xanthene dye, yuppify, zombify