gratify
verb
grat·i·fy
ˈgra-tə-ˌfī 
gratified; gratifying
1
: to be a source of or give pleasure or satisfaction to
it gratified him to have his wife wear jewels—
Willa Cather
Willa Cather3
archaic
: remunerate, reward
Did you know?
A gratifying experience is quietly pleasing or satisfying. But gratifying an impulse means giving in to it, which isn't always such a good idea, and "instant gratification" of every desire will result in a life based on junk food and worse. Truly gratifying experiences and accomplishments usually are the result of time and effort.
Examples of gratify in a Sentence
A guilty verdict would gratify the victim's relatives.
He's only concerned with gratifying his own desires.
Recent Examples on the Web
Why catharsis doesn’t work Kicking the crap out of a punching bag or unleashing a rant might feel gratifying in the moment.
—Carolyn L. Todd, SELF, 21 Mar. 2025
So, if not a gratifying ending where everyone lives happily ever after and the villains get clobbered, then what?
—Brian Grubb, Vulture, 14 Mar. 2025
She also was gratified when Barrymore addressed her as Meghan Sussex, the first time she’s ever been publicly addressed in this way, according to People.
—Martha Ross, The Mercury News, 7 Mar. 2025
She was especially gratified while working in Pisgah, the first national forest created from private lands purchased under the Weeks Act, which was signed in 1911, to protect watersheds and coördinate fire protection in the eastern United States.
—Peter Slevin, The New Yorker, 13 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gratify
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Carolyn L. Todd, SELF, 21 Mar. 2025
So, if not a gratifying ending where everyone lives happily ever after and the villains get clobbered, then what?
—Brian Grubb, Vulture, 14 Mar. 2025
She also was gratified when Barrymore addressed her as Meghan Sussex, the first time she’s ever been publicly addressed in this way, according to People.
—Martha Ross, The Mercury News, 7 Mar. 2025
She was especially gratified while working in Pisgah, the first national forest created from private lands purchased under the Weeks Act, which was signed in 1911, to protect watersheds and coördinate fire protection in the eastern United States.
—Peter Slevin, The New Yorker, 13 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gratify
Cite this Entry
“Gratify.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gratify. Accessed 6 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
gratify
verb
grat·i·fy
ˈgrat-ə-ˌfī
gratified; gratifying
1
: to give or be a source of pleasure or satisfaction to
2
: to grant a favor to : indulge
gratification
noun
ˌgrat-ə-fə-ˈkā-shən
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