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
Promoting such a high profile film—while also starring in Rachel Sennot’s buzzy HBO comedy I Love LA— has been both gratifying and, at times, nerve-wracking for the actor.
—Rebecca Ford, Vanity Fair, 12 Mar. 2026
Rick Celebrini was gratified to see Macklin evolve into a key player for Canada as opposed to simply getting a small dose of the Olympics as a 19-year-old star who has since returned to the San Jose Sharks.
—Jerry McDonald, Mercury News, 28 Feb. 2026
In the years since my first session, it’s been gratifying to see psychedelics becoming more widely accepted.
—Erica Rex, STAT, 19 Feb. 2026
Building connections is gratifying to Siqueira, who has poured much of her life into volleyball.
—Walter Villa, Miami Herald, 15 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for gratify
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Rebecca Ford, Vanity Fair, 12 Mar. 2026
Rick Celebrini was gratified to see Macklin evolve into a key player for Canada as opposed to simply getting a small dose of the Olympics as a 19-year-old star who has since returned to the San Jose Sharks.
—Jerry McDonald, Mercury News, 28 Feb. 2026
In the years since my first session, it’s been gratifying to see psychedelics becoming more widely accepted.
—Erica Rex, STAT, 19 Feb. 2026
Building connections is gratifying to Siqueira, who has poured much of her life into volleyball.
—Walter Villa, Miami Herald, 15 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for gratify
Cite this Entry
“Gratify.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gratify. Accessed 27 Mar. 2026.
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
ËŒgrat-É™-fÉ™-ˈkÄ-shÉ™n
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