grateful

adjective

grate·​ful ˈgrāt-fəl How to pronounce grateful (audio)
1
a
: appreciative of benefits received
b
: expressing gratitude
grateful thanks
2
a
: affording pleasure or contentment : pleasing
b
: pleasing by reason of comfort supplied or discomfort alleviated
gratefully adverb
gratefulness noun

Examples 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.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Still, Gausman was grateful for the opportunity to perform in front of a raucous crowd at the Rogers Centre, and knows this fight is far from finished. Jackson Roberts, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Oct. 2025 Justin's super grateful for his fans. Bailey Richards, PEOPLE, 25 Oct. 2025 Whatever happens next, Downton is grateful for the opportunity to seek justice for his client. Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 24 Oct. 2025 More than 15 years later, Jennifer’s Body continues to pack a punch for its intended audience, and director Karyn Kusama is grateful for the film’s cult status. Glenn Garner, Deadline, 23 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for grateful

Word History

Etymology

obsolete grate pleasing, thankful, from Latin gratus — more at grace

First Known Use

1552, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of grateful was in 1552

Cite this Entry

“Grateful.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grateful. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

grateful

adjective
grate·​ful ˈgrāt-fəl How to pronounce grateful (audio)
1
a
: appreciative of benefits received
b
: expressing gratitude
2
: giving pleasure or contentment : pleasing
gratefully adverb
gratefulness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on grateful

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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