gratitude

The word “gratitude” means a feeling of thankfulness and appreciation. In plain terms, the feeling of being thankful for something.

“Gratitude” is pronounced GRA-tih-tyood (/ˈɡɹæ.tɪ.tjuːd/ in IPA).

Here is “gratitude” used in a sentence: “She expressed her gratitude to everyone who had helped during the crisis.”

“Gratitude” is a noun.

The word “gratitude” comes from Medieval Latin. From French gratitude, from Medieval Latin grātitūdō ("thankfulness"), from Latin grātus ("thankful").

“Gratitude” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

Gratitude is a feeling of thankfulness, usually directed toward someone or something for a benefit received, while appreciation is a broader recognition of the value or worth of something. You can appreciate a piece of music, but you feel gratitude toward a person who helps you.

The two are very close in meaning and often interchangeable. Thankfulness tends to describe the immediate feeling of being thankful, while gratitude often suggests a deeper, more lasting appreciation and is the slightly more formal term.

Gratitude is commonly followed by "to" for the person and "for" for the reason, as in gratitude to my parents for their support. The phrase "in gratitude" is also frequently used.

Gratitude often appears in phrases such as express gratitude, heartfelt gratitude, deep gratitude, and a debt of gratitude. These collocations tend to emphasise the depth or sincerity of the feeling.