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

• compliment
• felicitate
• hug

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

That ethical dodge — congratulating modern progress, ignoring this era’s nervous breakdown — is the basic, political, insensitive reason that contemporary Hollywood cannot create love stories. —Armond White, National Review, 25 Apr. 2025

Celebrities and fellow golfers congratulated him after his big win. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Apr. 2025

After Styles' marathon in Japan, David congratulated him on his achievement. —Marina Watts, People.com, 21 Apr. 2025

The company received a boost when Jared Isaacman, President Donald Trump’s pick to lead NASA and a commercial astronaut himself, publicly congratulated Monday’s mission. —Jackie Snow, Quartz, 19 Apr. 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