First Known Use: 1539
Dictionary
gratify
verb grat·i·fy \ˈgra-tə-ˌfī\
: to make (someone) happy or satisfied
: to do or give whatever is wanted or demanded by (someone or something)
grat·i·fiedgrat·i·fy·ing
Full Definition of GRATIFY
transitive verb
1
archaic : remunerate, reward
2
: to be a source of or give pleasure or satisfaction to <it gratified him to have his wife wear jewels — Willa Cather>
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Origin of GRATIFY
Middle French gratifier, from Latin gratificari to show kindness to, from gratus + -ificari, passive of -ificare -ify
Related to GRATIFY
- Synonyms
- cater (to), indulge, humor
- Antonyms
- displease
Other Business Terms
Rhymes with GRATIFY
abide by, Adonai, alibi, alkali, amplify, apple-pie, argufy, assegai, azo dye, basify, beautify, butterfly, by-and-by, caddis fly, calcify, certify, Chou En-lai, citify, clarify, classify, coalify, cockneyfy, codify, college try, cottage pie, crucify, cut-and-try, cutie-pie, DIY, damnify, damselfly, dandify, deify, densify, dignify, dobsonfly, do-or-die, dragonfly, dulcify, eagle eye, edify, evil eye, falsify, fancify, fortify, frenchify, fructify, gasify, Gemini, gentrify, glorify, goggle-eye, goldeneye, Haggai, harvest fly, hexerei, high and dry, hip and thigh, Hokusai, hook and eye, horrify, hoverfly, humble pie, Iceni, justify, kiss good-bye, lazy eye, lignify, liquefy, lithify, Lorelei, lullaby, Madurai, magnify, Malachi, Maracay, minify, modify, mollify, Molokai, Mordecai, mortify, multi-ply, multiply, mummify, mystify, nazify, notify, nullify, occupy, old school tie, on standby, on the fly, ossify, overbuy, overfly, overlie, pacify, Paraguay, passerby, peccavi, petrify, PPI, preachify, prettify, private eye, prophesy, purify, putrefy, qualify, quantify, ramify, rarefy, ratify, RBI, rectify, reify, res gestae, robber fly, runner's high, Russify, samurai, sanctify, satisfy, scarify, schwarmerei, semidry, set store by, shepherd's pie, shoofly pie, signify, simplify, Spanish fly, specify, speechify, stratify, stultify, stupefy, sweetie pie, Tenebrae, terrify, testify, tie-and-dye, tigereye, Trans Alai, tumble dry, typify, uglify, underlie, unify, Uruguay, Veneti, verify, versify, vilify, vinify, vitrify, vivify, weather eye, Windsor tie, xanthene dye, yuppify, zombify
GRATIFY Defined for Kids
gratify
verb grat·i·fy \ˈgra-tə-ˌfī\
grat·i·fiedgrat·i·fy·ing
Definition of GRATIFY for Kids
1
: to give pleasure or satisfaction to <The loud applause gratified her.>
2
: to do or give whatever is wanted by <He only wants to gratify his wishes.>
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