satisfy

UK: /ˈsætɪsfaɪ/ US: /ˈsætɪsˌfaɪ/ ,(sat′is fī′)

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

satisfies

v 3rd person singular

satisfying

v pres p

satisfied

v past

satisfied

v past p

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

sat•is•fy /ˈsætɪsˌfaɪ/   v. [~ + object] , -fied, -fy•ing. 

1. to fulfill the desires, expectations, or demands of:
   Only a full apology will satisfy me.
2. to put an end to (a desire, etc.) by providing enough of something:
   to satisfy her hunger.
3. to give assurance to:
   to satisfy oneself by investigation.
4. to take care of (something, such as a debt) fully:
   You'll need to satisfy any outstanding accounts.
5. to be enough for;
   meet:
   unless certain conditions are satisfied.

See -sat-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

sat•is•fy  (sat′is fī′), v., -fied, -fy•ing. 
v.t. 

1. to fulfill the desires, expectations, needs, or demands of (a person, the mind, etc.);
   give full contentment to:
   The hearty meal satisfied him.
2. to put an end to (a desire, want, need, etc.) by sufficient or ample provision:
   The hearty meal satisfied his hunger.
3. to give assurance to;
   convince:
   to satisfy oneself by investigation.
4. to answer sufficiently, as an objection.
5. to solve or dispel, as a doubt.
6. to discharge fully (a debt, obligation, etc.).
7. to make reparation to or for:
   to satisfy an offended person; to satisfy a wrong.
8. to pay (a creditor).
9. Mathematics
   • to fulfill the requirements or conditions of:
     to satisfy a theorem.
   • (of a value of an unknown) to change (an equation) into an identity when substituted for the unknown: x = 2 satisfies 3 x = 6.

v.i. 

10. to give satisfaction.

• Vulgar Latin *satisficāre (for Latin satisfacere to do enough; see satisfaction); see -fy
• Middle French satisfier
• late Middle English satisfien 1400–50

sat′is•fi′a•ble, adj. 
sat′is•fi′er, n. 
sat′is•fy′ing•ly, adv. 
sat′is•fy′ing•ness, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. gratify, appease, pacify, please.
  Satisfy, content refer to meeting one's desires or wishes.
  To satisfy is to meet to the full one's wants, expectations, etc.:
  to satisfy a desire to travel.
  To content is to give enough to keep one from being disposed to find fault or complain:
  to content oneself with a moderate meal.
• 3. persuade.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

satisfy / ˈsætɪsˌfaɪ/ verb ( -fies, -fying, -fied)(mainly tr)

1. (also intr) to fulfil the desires or needs of (a person)
2. to provide amply for (a need or desire)
3. to relieve of doubt; convince
4. to dispel (a doubt)
5. to make reparation to or for
6. to discharge or pay off (a debt) to (a creditor)
7. to fulfil the requirements of; comply with: you must satisfy the terms of your lease
8. to fulfil the conditions of (a theorem, assumption, etc); to yield a truth by substitution of the given value

Etymology: 15th Century: from Old French satisfier, from Latin satisfacere, from satis enough + facere to make, do

ˈsatisˌfiable adjective

ˈsatisˌfying adjective

ˈsatisˌfyingly adverb