gratification

noun

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grat·i·fi·ca·tion | \ ˌgra-tə-fə-ˈkā-shən

Definition of gratification

1 : reward, recompense monetary gratification for a job well done especially : gratuity

2 : the act of gratifying : the state of being gratified the gratification of physical appetites

3 : a source of satisfaction or pleasure found gratification in getting his novel published

Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Phrases Containing gratification Learn More About gratification

Examples of gratification in a Sentence

eating good chocolate gives me a sense of intense gratification

Recent Examples on the Web Firefighting, Josh said, triggered a very different high than drugs: the gratification of hard work, a sense of purpose. — Lizzie Johnson, San Francisco Chronicle, 10 Nov. 2021 Digital solutions can be used to provide instant gratification — such as motivators, incentives and rewards for taking positive steps forward and small acknowledgments that celebrate things like length of sobriety. — Steve Peretz, Forbes, 20 Sep. 2021 But the biggest hurdle may be adjusting the expectations of high-profile collectors accustomed to instant gratification. — New York Times, 25 Mar. 2022 The demand for instant gratification has seeped into everything. — Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 13 Feb. 2022 The citizens of Latitude Margaritaville testify so consistently to a life of gratification that one suspects, but finds no evidence for, a regimen of happy pills or talking points. — Nick Paumgarten, The New Yorker, 21 Mar. 2022 In this era of instant-gratification online shopping, buying a Birkin is quaintly and, perhaps snobbily, arduous. — Jacob Gallagher, WSJ, 7 Mar. 2022 Ours has become the ultimate instant-gratification society, and the idea of baseball, the thinking man’s game, isn’t exactly scratching where most sports fans are itching. — Los Angeles Times, 3 Mar. 2022 The pandemic has delayed gratification, meetings and trips. — Star Tribune, 3 Apr. 2021 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'gratification.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.