1
a
: appreciative of benefits received : feeling or showing thanks
b
: expressing gratitude
a grateful smile
2
b
: pleasing by reason of comfort supplied or discomfort alleviated
… shy wild creatures are at home beneath the grateful lights and shadows of the woods, rejoicing in their fullness of perfect life!—
John Muir
John Muir
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.
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
Her sister was grateful for that promise and still planned to move forward with the same property.
—Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 9 Dec. 2025
Folks are largely grateful, but reactions vary once Martinez and her team start asking questions.
—Jessi Roti, Bon Appetit Magazine, 9 Dec. 2025
Vargas encourages people to be united with their families, focus on forgiveness if there are any problems, and to remain grateful and faithful.
—Charlie Lapastora, CBS News, 8 Dec. 2025
Parents will be just as grateful for an entertaining, kid-friendly show that tackles such nuanced topics.
—Lynnette Nicholas, Parents, 8 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for grateful
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 9 Dec. 2025
Folks are largely grateful, but reactions vary once Martinez and her team start asking questions.
—Jessi Roti, Bon Appetit Magazine, 9 Dec. 2025
Vargas encourages people to be united with their families, focus on forgiveness if there are any problems, and to remain grateful and faithful.
—Charlie Lapastora, CBS News, 8 Dec. 2025
Parents will be just as grateful for an entertaining, kid-friendly show that tackles such nuanced topics.
—Lynnette Nicholas, Parents, 8 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for grateful
Cite this Entry
“Grateful.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grateful. Accessed 15 Dec. 2025.
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