thankful

adjective

thank·​ful ˈthaŋk-fəl 

1

: conscious of benefit received

for what we are about to receive make us truly thankful

2

: expressive of thanks

thankful service

3

: well pleased : glad

was thankful that it didn't rain

thankfulness noun

Synonyms of thankful

• glad
• pleased
• delighted
• happy
• satisfied

Examples of thankful in a Sentence

Everyone was thankful to hear the good news.

we were thankful that someone else was footing the bill for the lavish wedding banquet

Recent Examples on the Web

Carbery hopes that Ovechkin will add to his lofty goal total in 2026-27, but regardless, the coach is thankful to have been associated with The Great 8. —ABC News, 12 Apr. 2026

Jury is thankful that the vineyard was almost entirely replanted beginning in 2018, so the vines are relatively young and create wines with vibrancy and energy. —Laura Ness, Mercury News, 12 Apr. 2026

As Assad walked off the mound in the sixth, the large contingent of Cubs fans who showed up to Tropicana Field gave him a rousing ovation, thankful for his performance. —Sahadev Sharma, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2026

May is thankful Mara has made Michigan his home after weighing offers in the transfer portal. —CBS News, 1 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing thankful

• grateful/thankful for small mercies

Kids Definition

thankful

adjective

thank·​ful ˈthaŋk-fəl 

: feeling or showing thanks

thankfully

-fə-lē

adverb

thankfulness noun