grateful
adjective
grate·ful ˈgrāt-fəl 
1
a
: appreciative of benefits received
b
: expressing gratitude
grateful thanks
2
a
: affording pleasure or contentment : pleasing
b
: pleasing by reason of comfort supplied or discomfort alleviated
gratefully
ˈgrāt-fə-lē
adverb gratefulness noun
Synonyms
- appreciative
- appreciatory
- glad
- obliged
- thankful
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
The voice quacking at the other end of the line sounded surprised and grateful—a young man's eager voice, thankful for the sudden interruption on an otherwise empty afternoon. —
Paul Theroux, Granta, Summer 1992 I didn't have to be in love with the man to do this, and my poor body'd probably be grateful to get fed, since it'd been on such a starvation diet. —Terry McMillan, Waiting to Exhale, 1992 Sergeant James Smith was a company clerk, which meant that he carried his commander's maps, Edwards was grateful to learn. —Tom Clancy, Red Storm Rising, 1986 I am grateful for the Latin I took and for the emphasis on English grammar, which seems to have faded from the curriculum. —John Updike, Hugging the Shore, (1983) 1984 The college sent us a grateful acknowledgment of our donation. I'm grateful to you for your help. He's grateful for the attention. See More
Paul Theroux, Granta, Summer 1992 I didn't have to be in love with the man to do this, and my poor body'd probably be grateful to get fed, since it'd been on such a starvation diet. —Terry McMillan, Waiting to Exhale, 1992 Sergeant James Smith was a company clerk, which meant that he carried his commander's maps, Edwards was grateful to learn. —Tom Clancy, Red Storm Rising, 1986 I am grateful for the Latin I took and for the emphasis on English grammar, which seems to have faded from the curriculum. —John Updike, Hugging the Shore, (1983) 1984 The college sent us a grateful acknowledgment of our donation. I'm grateful to you for your help. He's grateful for the attention. See More Recent Examples on the Web Stop telling Black people, and Black women in particular, to simply be grateful. —Christi Carrasstaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 6 Feb. 2023 Anderson was grateful for the coverage until his insurance renewal notice arrived about six months later. —Sean P. Murphy, BostonGlobe.com, 5 Feb. 2023 But while young artists aren’t flocking to apprentice at their workshops and batik factories, Ms. Mohammed and Mr. Ranasinghe are grateful to a new generation of upmarket fashion designers who seem to be taking an interest in their craft. —Zinara Rathnayake, The Christian Science Monitor, 1 Feb. 2023 Monique Joseph, Bobbi’s mother, told Yale officials that her daughter was grateful for the event honoring her interest in science. —Timothy Bella, Washington Post, 31 Jan. 2023 In a statement, Fire Chief Brad Ventura said the department is grateful for the support of the community. —Molly Walsh | Mwalsh@cleveland.com, cleveland, 31 Jan. 2023 Nonetheless, Kutcher now has much to be grateful for. —Dan Heching, CNN, 31 Jan. 2023 Dan Swygart is grateful for those who support his connection to Shauna Rae. —Kelly Wynne, Peoplemag, 27 Jan. 2023 His office tweeted Steube and his family are grateful to the team of doctors, nurses, and medical personnel treating him. —Natalie Neysa Alund, USA TODAY, 19 Jan. 2023 See More
Christi Carrasstaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 6 Feb. 2023 Anderson was grateful for the coverage until his insurance renewal notice arrived about six months later. —Sean P. Murphy, BostonGlobe.com, 5 Feb. 2023 But while young artists aren’t flocking to apprentice at their workshops and batik factories, Ms. Mohammed and Mr. Ranasinghe are grateful to a new generation of upmarket fashion designers who seem to be taking an interest in their craft. —Zinara Rathnayake, The Christian Science Monitor, 1 Feb. 2023 Monique Joseph, Bobbi’s mother, told Yale officials that her daughter was grateful for the event honoring her interest in science. —Timothy Bella, Washington Post, 31 Jan. 2023 In a statement, Fire Chief Brad Ventura said the department is grateful for the support of the community. —Molly Walsh | Mwalsh@cleveland.com, cleveland, 31 Jan. 2023 Nonetheless, Kutcher now has much to be grateful for. —Dan Heching, CNN, 31 Jan. 2023 Dan Swygart is grateful for those who support his connection to Shauna Rae. —Kelly Wynne, Peoplemag, 27 Jan. 2023 His office tweeted Steube and his family are grateful to the team of doctors, nurses, and medical personnel treating him. —Natalie Neysa Alund, USA TODAY, 19 Jan. 2023 See More Word History
Etymology
obsolete grate pleasing, thankful, from Latin gratus — more at grace
First Known Use
1552, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Phrases Containing grateful
Kids Definition
grateful
adjective grate·ful ˈgrāt-fəl
1
a
: appreciative of benefits received
b
: expressing gratitude
2
: giving pleasure or contentment : pleasing
gratefully
-fə-lē
adverb gratefulness noun
grateful
adjective
1
as in thankful
feeling or expressing gratitude she was grateful for her neighbor's help after she broke her foot Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- thankful
- appreciative
- glad
- thanking
- obliged
- indebted
- delighted
- pleased
- appreciatory
- satisfied
- gratified
- contented
- beholden
- tickled
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- ungrateful
- unappreciative
- thankless
- thoughtless
- inappreciative
- rude
- ungracious
- inhospitable
2
as in pleasant
giving pleasure or contentment to the mind or senses I'm glad for the grateful warmth of the fire on such a cold day Synonyms & Similar Words
- pleasant
- delicious
- delightful
- enjoyable
- nice
- pleasing
- sweet
- welcome
- good
- satisfying
- blessed
- heavenly
- happy
- pretty
- gratifying
- pleasurable
- comforting
- jolly
- amusing
- comfortable
- agreeable
- darling
- tempting
- congenial
- soothing
- tasty
- felicitous
- dreamy
- fascinating
- luscious
- desirable
- palatable
- delectable
- blest
- savory
- attractive
- charming
- inviting
- glad
- cheerful
- gracious
- delightsome
- blissful
- dulcet
- entertaining
- savoury
- enviable
- kindly
- alluring
- joyous
- ecstatic
- calming
- enchanting
- hospitable
- amiable
- cheery
- affable
- relishable
- goodly
- personable
- genial
- exhilarating
- recreative
- diverting
- good-natured
- euphoric
- rapturous
- intoxicating
- felicific
- elating
- gemütlich
- nirvanic
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- unpleasant
- unwelcome
- disagreeable
- miserable
- sad
- wretched
- disgusting
- hateful
- horrid
- unpalatable
- abominable
- repugnant
- unhappy
- ghastly
- obnoxious
- repulsive
- abhorrent
- odious
- distasteful
- vile
- hellish
- irksome
- offensive
- tedious
- detestable
- commonplace
- flat
- repellent
- unsavory
- boring
- dull
- tragic
- bilious
- yucky
- regrettable
- pleasureless
- gloomy
- insipid
- sorrowful
- disheartening
- depressing
- deplorable
- annoying
- displeasing
- lamentable
- mournful
- heartbreaking
- revulsive
- dismal
- dreary
- irritating
- stale
- exasperating
- dissatisfying
- joyless
- vexing
- aggravating
- doleful
- lugubrious
- tragical
- god-awful
- hostile
- lachrymose
- yukky
- perturbing
- repellant
- infuriating
- heartrending
- disturbing
- maddening
- dolorous
- upsetting
- forbidding
- intimidating
- distressing
- peeving
- enraging
- angering
- outraging
- rankling
- incensing
- riling
- inflaming
- enflaming