congratulate

UK: /kənˈgrætʃʊleɪt/

US: /kənˈgrætʃəˌleɪt, kəŋ-/

US: (kən grach′ə lāt′ or, often, -graj′-, kəng-)

Inflections of 'congratulate' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

congratulates

v 3rd person singular

congratulating

v pres p

congratulated

v past

congratulated

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

con•grat•u•late /kənˈgrætʃəˌleɪt, kəŋ-/   v. [~ + object (+ on + object)] , -lat•ed, -lat•ing. 

1. to express pleasure to (a person) on a happy occasion:
   congratulated the newlyweds; congratulated her on her promotion.
2. [~ + oneself] to feel pride in (oneself ) for an accomplishment or good fortune:
   congratulated himself on his narrow escape.

con•grat•u•la•tor, n. [countable]
con•grat•u•la•to•ry /kənˈgrætʃələˌtɔri/  adj.: a congratulatory message. See -grat-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

con•grat•u•late  (kən grach′ə lāt′ or, often, -graj′-, kəng-), v.t., -lat•ed, -lat•ing. 

1. to express pleasure to (a person), as on a happy occasion:
   They congratulated him on his marriage.
2. [Archaic.] to express sympathetic joy or satisfaction at (an event).
3. [Obs.] to salute.

• Latin congrātulātus, past participle of congrātulārī. See congratulant, -ate¹
• 1540–50

con•grat′u•la′tor, n. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

congratulate / kənˈɡrætjʊˌleɪt/ verb (transitive)

1. (usually followed by on) to communicate pleasure, approval, or praise to (a person or persons); compliment
2. (often followed by on) to consider (oneself) clever or fortunate (as a result of): she congratulated herself on her tact
3. to greet

Etymology: 16th Century: from Latin congrātulārī, from grātulārī to rejoice, from grātus pleasing

conˌgratuˈlation noun

conˈgratuˌlator noun

conˈgratulatory, conˈgratulative adjective