gratify

verb

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grat·i·fy | \ ˈgra-tə-ˌfī

gratified; gratifying

Definition of gratify

transitive verb

1 : to be a source of or give pleasure or satisfaction to it gratified him to have his wife wear jewels— Willa Cather

2 : to give in to : indulge, satisfy gratify a whim

3 archaic : remunerate, reward

Synonyms Did you know? More Example Sentences Learn More About gratify

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 Benedetta and Bartolomea awaken and gratify each other’s desires, at times making strategic use of a sacred figurine that has been retooled to heighten their pleasure and, of course, to offend those with more parochial sensibilities in the audience. — Los Angeles Times, 3 Dec. 2021 Jennifer’s literal survival depends (for supernatural reasons) on her ability to gratify her vampiric, cannibalistic hungers, and thus to pursue her revenge plot unimpeded. — Richard Brod, The New Yorker, 1 Sep. 2021 Protecting the liberty of the people ranks lower than the legislators’ desire to gratify their own vain ambitions by doling out privileges and cash. — Lance Christensen, National Review, 14 May 2021 Each camp of Democrats thus has a responsibility to learn from, if not gratify, the other. — Michael Kazin, The New Republic, 11 Feb. 2021 Porter was in a position to provide information to a reporter but dictated terms that would gratify him and degrade her. — Los Angeles Times, 21 Jan. 2021 Bailey’s family tearfully told 3rd District Judge Paul Parker how French had begun manipulating the young teenager in order to gratify himself. — Jessica Miller, The Salt Lake Tribune, 25 Aug. 2020 How about writing to entertain or inform others, or perhaps gratify myself and my life's personal agenda? — Mike Masterson, Arkansas Online, 16 Aug. 2020 Even those inclined to support the president likely understand that the main goal of this strategy is to gratify his insatiable vanity. — Editorial Bloomberg Opinion, Star Tribune, 31 July 2020 See More

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