What does gratify mean?
Gratify is a formal verb meaning to give someone pleasure or satisfaction, or to satisfy a desire or need. A person may be gratified by a generous gesture, an achievement, or a thoughtful reply: “She was gratified that the audience appreciated her work.” The word can also describe the act of indulging a preference or whim, as in “The policy was designed to gratify demand for more choice.” In some contexts, gratify has a less complimentary nuance, suggesting that someone is being pleased or flattered for the speaker’s own advantage. Its related forms include gratification, a noun meaning pleasure or satisfaction, and gratifying, an adjective describing something that gives pleasure. Although the word is common in formal and literary English, it is less typical of casual conversation, where satisfy, please, or delight are often more natural.
verbTo give someone pleasure or satisfaction, or to satisfy a desire or need. It can also mean to please or flatter someone, often as a way of gaining their favour.
- To please or satisfy someone by giving them enjoyment or contentment.
- To satisfy, indulge, or humour a desire, need, or whim.
"The audience was gratified by the unexpectedly thoughtful response."
"The curator was gratified that so many visitors appreciated the exhibition."
"The company issued a statement to gratify demand for clearer information."
Gratify comes from a Latin idea of doing what is pleasing: its root literally meant “to make something agreeable.”
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of gratify
Gratify comes through French from Latin gratificari, a word formed from gratus, meaning “pleasing” or “grateful,” and facere, meaning “to do” or “make.” The underlying sense was to do what was agreeable or acceptable, and the word entered English in the early 16th century. It belongs to the same Latin family as grateful, gratitude, gracious, and gratis.
Related word forms
How gratify is actually used
The word is formal and somewhat literary. It can carry a slightly critical implication when someone is described as being gratified by attention, praise, or flattery, especially if that pleasure is self-serving.