thankful

adjective

thank·​ful ˈthaŋk-fəl 

1

: conscious of benefit received

for what we are about to receive make us truly thankful

2

: expressive of thanks

thankful service

3

: well pleased : glad

was thankful that it didn't rain

thankfulness noun

Synonyms of thankful

• glad
• pleased
• delighted
• happy
• satisfied

Examples of thankful in a Sentence

Everyone was thankful to hear the good news.

we were thankful that someone else was footing the bill for the lavish wedding banquet

Recent Examples on the Web

Aaron Goldenthal said the family business is thankful for its customers. —Sean Krofssik, Hartford Courant, 24 Apr. 2026

At the time, many voters were extremely thankful that their governor had rejected costly federal overreach into Florida that would have destroyed the state economy while failing to effectively prevent the spread of the coronavirus. —Thomas C. Shank, The Orlando Sentinel, 24 Apr. 2026

Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson have three generations of family to be thankful for. —Zoey Lyttle, PEOPLE, 16 Apr. 2026

Carbery hopes that Ovechkin will add to his lofty goal total in 2026-27, but regardless, the coach is thankful to have been associated with The Great 8. —ABC News, 12 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing thankful

• grateful/thankful for small mercies

Kids Definition

thankful

adjective

thank·​ful ˈthaŋk-fəl 

: feeling or showing thanks

thankfully

-fə-lē

adverb

thankfulness noun