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
So we’re really gratified with how well this has been received so far.
—Jennifer Maas, Variety, 1 May 2025
Putting your reputation and expertise to the test will prove gratifying and encourage you to do more to honor your promises and beliefs.
—Eugenia Last, Mercury News, 29 Apr. 2025
We're gratified to work with great partners, Crypto.com and Yorkville America Digital, and look forward to bringing ETFs to the market for investors who believe both the American economy and digital assets are poised for tremendous growth.
—Ross Rosenfeld, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Apr. 2025
But for the theater star, playing Helen each night is gratifying on a much deeper level.
—Dave Quinn, People.com, 22 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gratify
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Jennifer Maas, Variety, 1 May 2025
Putting your reputation and expertise to the test will prove gratifying and encourage you to do more to honor your promises and beliefs.
—Eugenia Last, Mercury News, 29 Apr. 2025
We're gratified to work with great partners, Crypto.com and Yorkville America Digital, and look forward to bringing ETFs to the market for investors who believe both the American economy and digital assets are poised for tremendous growth.
—Ross Rosenfeld, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Apr. 2025
But for the theater star, playing Helen each night is gratifying on a much deeper level.
—Dave Quinn, People.com, 22 Apr. 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 8 May. 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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