thankful

adjective

thank·​ful ˈthaŋk-fəl 

1

: conscious of benefit received

for what we are about to receive make us truly thankful

2

: expressive of thanks

thankful service

3

: well pleased : glad

was thankful that it didn't rain

thankfulness noun

Synonyms

• blissful
• chuffed [British]
• delighted
• glad
• gratified
• happy
• joyful
• joyous
• pleased
• satisfied
• tickled

Examples of thankful in a Sentence

Everyone was thankful to hear the good news.

we were thankful that someone else was footing the bill for the lavish wedding banquet

Recent Examples on the Web

If anything, the 1,101 people who have been sentenced in connection with the insurrection should be thankful that the cops weren't told to fire on them. —Kevin Lynn, Newsweek, 6 Jan. 2025

Dine in the exquisite Turquoise Room and be thankful La Posada was saved from the wrecking ball and returned to its former glory. —Roger Naylor, The Arizona Republic, 1 Jan. 2025

Elizabeth Chambers is thankful for her 2024 holiday season. —Jen Juneau, People.com, 1 Jan. 2025

Constantly forcing yourself to feel thankful can overwhelm your brain, in particular the limbic system and prefrontal cortex that are responsible for emotional processing and decision-making, explains Dr. Mary Poffenroth, biopsychologist and author of Brave New You. —Noma Nazish, Forbes, 28 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing thankful

• grateful/thankful for small mercies

Kids Definition

thankful

adjective

thank·​ful ˈthaŋk-fəl 

: feeling or showing thanks

thankfully

-fə-lē

adverb

thankfulness noun