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

Just thankful for the opportunity more than anything to be behind the wheel in the Cup Series. —Joseph Wolkin, Forbes, 17 Mar. 2025

In the immediate aftermath, team officials were thankful Coulibaly had not sustained an injury to his head, neck or back. —Josh Robbins, The Athletic, 14 Mar. 2025

Those of us who have served in our nation's military couldn't be more thankful. —Raja Krishnamoorthi, Newsweek, 13 Mar. 2025

Fox News host and former Republican National Committee co-Chair Lara Trump argued Americans should be thankful for the work billionaire Elon Musk is doing on behalf of President Trump to shrink the size and spending of the federal government. —Dominick Mastrangelo, The Hill, 11 Mar. 2025

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