gratify
verb
grat·i·fy
ˈgra-tə-ˌfī 
gratified; gratifying
1
: to be a source of or give pleasure or satisfaction to
it gratified him to have his wife wear jewels—
Willa Cather
Willa Cather3
archaic
: remunerate, reward
Did you know?
A gratifying experience is quietly pleasing or satisfying. But gratifying an impulse means giving in to it, which isn't always such a good idea, and "instant gratification" of every desire will result in a life based on junk food and worse. Truly gratifying experiences and accomplishments usually are the result of time and effort.
Examples of gratify in a Sentence
A guilty verdict would gratify the victim's relatives.
He's only concerned with gratifying his own desires.
Recent Examples on the Web
Shows about money gratified both people’s escapist impulses and the desire to critique those who didn’t seem worthy of their blessings.
—Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 7 June 2025
The sculpture’s location itself is one of total urban deletion and communicative displacement as much as the sculptural structure is one of perceptual withdrawal and refusal of even a minimum of gratifying tactility.
—Benjamin H. D. Buchloh, Artforum, 1 June 2025
The recent evolution of Mexican food in New York has been gratifying, not so much because of deviation from the classics but by the refining of them and giving them a modern twist in terms of color, presentation and better ingredients.
—John Mariani, Forbes.com, 4 June 2025
Now, Libby is gratified to see the DOJ intervene and take legal action against the state.
—Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 16 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gratify
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Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 7 June 2025
The sculpture’s location itself is one of total urban deletion and communicative displacement as much as the sculptural structure is one of perceptual withdrawal and refusal of even a minimum of gratifying tactility.
—Benjamin H. D. Buchloh, Artforum, 1 June 2025
The recent evolution of Mexican food in New York has been gratifying, not so much because of deviation from the classics but by the refining of them and giving them a modern twist in terms of color, presentation and better ingredients.
—John Mariani, Forbes.com, 4 June 2025
Now, Libby is gratified to see the DOJ intervene and take legal action against the state.
—Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 16 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gratify
Cite this Entry
“Gratify.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gratify. Accessed 9 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
gratify
verb
grat·i·fy
ˈgrat-ə-ˌfī
gratified; gratifying
1
: to give or be a source of pleasure or satisfaction to
2
: to grant a favor to : indulge
gratification
noun
ˌgrat-ə-fə-ˈkā-shən
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