ingratiate

verb

in·​gra·​ti·​ate in-ˈgrā-shē-ˌāt 

ingratiated; ingratiating

transitive verb

: to gain favor or favorable acceptance for by deliberate effort

—usually used with with

ingratiate themselves with the community leaders

—William Attwood

ingratiation

in-ˌgrā-shē-ˈā-shən 

noun

ingratiatory

in-ˈgrā-sh(ē-)ə-ˌtȯr-ē 

adjective

Did you know?

When you ingratiate yourself, you put yourself in someone’s good graces in order to gain their approval or favor. While the word ingratiate does not necessarily imply that your behavior is obsequious or otherwise improper, the word may be used disapprovingly by those who distrust your motives. The word entered English in the early 1600s from the combining of the Latin noun gratia, meaning “grace” or “favor,” with the English prefix in-. Gratia comes from the adjective gratus, meaning “pleasing, grateful.” Gratus has, over the centuries, ingratiated itself well with the English language as the ancestor of a whole host of words including gratuitous, congratulate, and grace.

Examples of ingratiate in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

To ingratiate himself into the community, John Fisher took part in the Nashville Pickers Celebrity Baseball Team, a touring sports outfit that included local record executives and artists like Roy Clark, Tanya Tucker, and Mickey Gilley. —David Browne, Rolling Stone, 8 Dec. 2024

This isn’t Meta’s first time ingratiating itself with Trump. —Byandrew Nusca, Fortune, 4 Dec. 2024

Undeterred, Lake continued to ingratiate herself with Trump and MAGA, and was even considered as a possible vice presidential candidate. —David Gilbert, WIRED, 5 Nov. 2024

Receivers in Payton’s offense have historically ingratiated themselves into the scheme at varied rates. —Nick Kosmider, The Athletic, 20 Aug. 2024

Word History

Etymology

in- entry 2 + Latin gratia grace

First Known Use

1621, in the meaning defined above

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Kids Definition

ingratiate

verb

in·​gra·​ti·​ate in-ˈgrā-shē-ˌāt 

ingratiated; ingratiating

: to gain favor or acceptance for by deliberate effort

quickly ingratiated herself with her new pupils

ingratiation

-ˌgrā-shē-ˈā-shən 

noun