grateful /ˈɡreɪtfəl/

Origin

From obsolete English 'grate' (pleasing, agreeable) + '-ful', derived from Latin 'gratus' meaning pleasing or thankful.

Meanings

1. Feeling or showing appreciation, thankful

   • "I'm grateful for your help during difficult times."
   • "The grateful patient thanked the doctor who saved his life."

2. Expressing or showing gratitude

   • "She sent a grateful letter to her mentor."
   • "The refugees were grateful for the warm welcome they received."

Word Forms

• Noun: gratitude
• Adverb: gratefully
• Antonym: ungrateful

Synonyms

• thankful
• appreciative
• indebted
• obliged
• recognizant

Word Family

• gratify (verb)
• gratifying (adjective)
• gratification (noun)
• gratefully (adverb)
• ingrate (noun)

Memory Tips

1. Break it into "GREAT + FULL" - when you're grateful, you're FULL of GREAT feelings
2. Think "G-RATE-ful" - you give someone a good RATE/rating when you're grateful to them
3. Associate with "grace" - being grateful is showing grace in receiving help or kindness

Usage Notes

• Often followed by "for" or "to"
  • Grateful for (something)
  • Grateful to (someone)
• Commonly used in formal thank-you notes and expressions of appreciation