Definition of grateful
1a : appreciative of benefits receivedb : expressing gratitude <grateful thanks>
2a : affording pleasure or contentment : pleasingb : pleasing by reason of comfort supplied or discomfort alleviated
gratefulness
nounExamples of grateful in a sentence
The voice quacking at the other end of the line sounded surprised and grateful—a young man's eager voice, thankful for the sudden interruption on an otherwise empty afternoon. —Paul Theroux, Granta, Summer 1992
I didn't have to be in love with the man to do this, and my poor body'd probably be grateful to get fed, since it'd been on such a starvation diet. —Terry McMillan, Waiting to Exhale, 1992
Sergeant James Smith was a company clerk, which meant that he carried his commander's maps, Edwards was grateful to learn. —Tom Clancy, Red Storm Rising, 1986
I am grateful for the Latin I took and for the emphasis on English grammar, which seems to have faded from the curriculum. —John Updike, Hugging the Shore, (1983) 1984
The college sent us a grateful acknowledgment of our donation.
I'm grateful to you for your help.
He's grateful for the attention.
Origin and Etymology of grateful
obsolete grate pleasing, thankful, from Latin gratus — more at grace
First Known Use: 1552
GRATEFUL Defined for English Language Learners
grateful
playDefinition of grateful for English Language Learners
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: feeling or showing thanks : feeling or showing thanks to someone for some helpful act
GRATEFUL Defined for Kids
grateful
playDefinition of grateful for Students
1 : feeling or showing thanks <I'm grateful for your help.>
2 : providing pleasure or comfort <… the blended scents of tea and coffee were so grateful to the nose … — Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol>
gratefully
\-fə-lē\ adverbWord Root of grateful
The Latin word gratus, meaning “pleasing” or “thankful,” gives us the root grat. Words from the Latin gratus have something to do with being pleasing or being thankful. To ingratiate yourself is to make others feel thankful for something you've done. To feel grateful is to feel thankful for something. Gratitude is a feeling of thankfulness. To congratulate is to express how pleasing someone's success is.
Learn More about grateful
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See words that rhyme with grateful Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for grateful Spanish Central: Translation of grateful Nglish: Translation of grateful for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of grateful for Arabic speakers
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