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
The fans never got an opportunity to give a grateful goodbye, Pat Riley resigning on an early summer afternoon 36 years ago after the end of a lost season.
—Los Angeles Times, 23 Feb. 2026
Eric adored his fans and is forever grateful for the outpouring of love and support he’s received.
—Jason Pham, StyleCaster, 23 Feb. 2026
This is not something Dwyane Wade, who clearly remains forever grateful, would say, but the Heat really do need to redo his statue on the steps of Kaseya Center.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 23 Feb. 2026
An individual or business prepping for a big move will likely be grateful!
—Sarah Lyon, Southern Living, 22 Feb. 2026
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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Los Angeles Times, 23 Feb. 2026
Eric adored his fans and is forever grateful for the outpouring of love and support he’s received.
—Jason Pham, StyleCaster, 23 Feb. 2026
This is not something Dwyane Wade, who clearly remains forever grateful, would say, but the Heat really do need to redo his statue on the steps of Kaseya Center.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 23 Feb. 2026
An individual or business prepping for a big move will likely be grateful!
—Sarah Lyon, Southern Living, 22 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for grateful
Cite this Entry
“Grateful.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grateful. Accessed 25 Feb. 2026.
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