congratulate

verb

con·​grat·​u·​late kən-ˈgra-chə-ˌlāt 

-ˈgra-jə-

congratulated; congratulating

transitive verb

1

: to express vicarious pleasure to (a person) on the occasion of success or good fortune

graciously congratulated the winner

also : to feel pleased with

congratulating herself for a job well done

2

archaic : to express sympathetic pleasure at (an event)

3

obsolete : salute, greet

congratulator

kən-ˈgra-chə-ˌlā-tər 

-ˈgra-jə-

noun

Synonyms

• commend
• cheer
• hug
• compliment
• praise

Examples of congratulate in a Sentence

I'd like to congratulate you on your success.

She congratulated us on our test results.

She congratulated herself for getting the best grade in her class.

Recent Examples on the Web

After a stretch of relative quiet, Beyoncé Knowles-Carter resurfaced on social media to congratulate her mom, Tina Knowles, on her latest philanthropy award, even sharing photos from the night featuring Knowles and Blue Ivy Carter. —Caché McClay, USA Today, 28 Oct. 2025

Several Love Is Blind and Perfect Match alums congratulated the couple in the comments section. —Ashlyn Robinette, PEOPLE, 27 Oct. 2025

Brett Favre took to social media on X and congratulated Love on his performance. —Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Oct. 2025

Markle publicly congratulated the couple and liked Swift’s Instagram announcement of her engagement to Kelce. —Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 26 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Latin congratulatus, past participle of congratulari to wish joy, from com- + gratulari to wish joy, from gratus pleasing — more at grace

First Known Use

1539, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for congratulate

• abbreviate
• accelerate
• accommodate
• accumulate
• acuminate
• adjudicate
• adulterate
• affiliate
• agglomerate
• agglutinate
• alleviate
• amalgamate

Kids Definition

congratulate

verb

con·​grat·​u·​late kən-ˈgrach-ə-ˌlāt 

congratulated; congratulating

: to express pleasure to on account of success or good fortune

congratulate the winner

Etymology

from Latin congratulatus "has wished joy," derived from Latin con-, com- "with, together" and gratulari "to wish joy," from gratus "pleasing, agreeable, thankful" — related to grace, gratitude