the act of gratifying or the state of being gratified something that gratifies - an obsolete word for gratuity
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
grat•i•fy /ˈgrætəˌfaɪ/USA pronunciation
v., -fied, -fy•ing.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- to give pleasure to (a person or persons): [~ + object]Her praise gratified us all.[It + ~ + object + that clause]It gratified us that we were going home soon.
- to satisfy; indulge:[~ + object]As a child she always wanted to gratify her desires instantly.
grat•i•fi•ca•tion
(grat′ə fi kā′shən),USA pronunciation n.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- the state of being gratified;
great satisfaction. - something that gratifies;
source of pleasure or satisfaction. - the act of gratifying.
- [Archaic.]a reward, recompense, or gratuity.
- Latin grātificātiōn- (stem of grātificātiō). See gratify, -ation
- 1590–1600
- 1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged pleasure, relish, delight, enjoyment, comfort.
grat•i•fy
(grat′ə fī′),USA pronunciation v.t., -fied, -fy•ing.
grat′i•fi′a•ble, adj.
grat•i•fi•ed•ly
(grat′ə fī′id lē, -fīd′-),USA pronunciation adv.
grat′i•fi′er, n.
- to give pleasure to (a person or persons) by satisfying desires or humoring inclinations or feelings:Her praise will gratify all who worked so hard to earn it.
- to satisfy; indulge;
humor, as one's desires or appetites. - [Obs.]to reward;
remunerate.
- Latin grātificāre, equivalent. to grāt(us) pleasing + -i- -i- + -ficāre -fy
- Middle English gratifien 1350–1400
- 1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged please, delight, gladden.
- 1, 2.See corresponding entry in Unabridged See humor.
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