congratulateverb [ T ]
uk/kənˈɡrætʃ.ə.leɪt/us/kənˈɡrætʃ.ə.leɪt/B2 to praise someone and say that you approve of or are pleased about a special or unusual achievement:
I was just congratulating Ceri on winning/on having won her race.
More examples
- The defeated candidate gave a dignified speech in which he congratulated his rival.
- His plan was such a success that even his original critics had to congratulate him.
- Granny rang up to congratulate him on passing his exams.
- I must congratulate you - this is a very impressive piece of work.
- It is my wife you should be congratulating - she did all the hard work.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Praising and applauding
- a pat on the back idiom
- acclaim
- acclamation
- accolade
- adulate
- cheer
- extol
- felicitations
- fete
- full marks to sb idiom
- give sb five idiom
- lay
- pat
- praise
- recognize
- rhapsody
- round of applause idiom
- shout-out
- sing
- sing the praises of sb/sth idiom
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congratulatory
adjective uk/kənˌɡrætʃ.əˈleɪ.tər.i/us/kənˈɡrætʃ.əl.ə.tɔːr.i/
a congratulatory speech