What does complimented mean?
"Complimented" is the past tense of the verb "compliment," meaning to have expressed praise, admiration, or courteous approval toward someone, usually about their appearance, achievements, or work. It appears naturally in phrases such as "she complimented him on his presentation" and carries a warm, positive tone suitable for both casual conversation and formal writing. In usage, the word typically pairs with "on" to identify the specific quality being praised. The underlying noun traces back through French to Italian "complimento" and ultimately to Latin "complementum" ("that which fills up or completes"), making it etymologically related to words like "complete" and "accomplish." A frequent pitfall is confusing it with "complemented," which describes things that combine well together rather than praise given. Knowing this distinction keeps one's writing precise, since the two words sound alike but mean very different things.
verb (past tense and past participle of "compliment")Past tense and past participle of "compliment": to have expressed praise, admiration, or courtesy to someone, typically regarding their appearance, work, or achievements.
- To have expressed praise, admiration, or polite approval to someone, often about their appearance, performance, or work.
- To have paid someone a courteous or formal gesture of respect (as in diplomatic or social contexts).
"The judge complimented her on the clarity of her argument."
"Her mentor complimented her on the elegance of her final draft."
"The ambassador complimented the hosts on their generous hospitality."
Though "compliment" now means praise, it originally meant fulfilling a duty of politeness — its Latin root simply means "to fill up or complete."
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of complimented
The verb "compliment" entered English in the mid-17th century, borrowed from French "complimenter," itself derived from Italian "complimento" and Spanish "cumplimiento," meaning the fulfillment of a duty or obligation of courtesy. These Romance forms trace back to Latin "complementum," from "complere" ("to fill up, complete"), the same root that gives us "complete," "comply," and "accomplish." Over time the sense narrowed from performing a polite obligation to offering praise or flattery, producing the modern past form "complimented."
Related word forms
How complimented is actually used
"Complimented" carries an overwhelmingly positive connotation and is used in both formal and informal registers. It is almost always followed by the preposition "on" when specifying what was praised (e.g., "complimented him on his speech"), though "for" is also acceptable. It should not be confused with "complemented," a common spelling-adjacent error.
Easily confused with complimented
"Complimented" means praised or admired, while "complemented" means combined well with or completed something else (from "complement").