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

The Leafs had to be thankful the Predators struggled to finish their chances; otherwise, things would have gotten ugly quickly. —Joshua Kloke, New York Times, 21 Dec. 2025

After meeting Johanne Siff, who is now the managing director of Ashlynn Park, Siff compared her work to Martin Margiela, according to Park, who was thankful but in disbelief. —Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 18 Dec. 2025

But Madigan has other things to be thankful for. —Anne Thompson, IndieWire, 17 Dec. 2025

Kinnett feels thankful to be one of those reunions and that Grayson is okay. —Dawn White, CBS News, 16 Dec. 2025

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