congratulate
9 synonyms and 1 antonym for congratulate, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Verb — To tell someone you are happy for them about something good that has happened.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
felicitate
preen
Antonyms
How to use congratulate
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
congratulate someone on
congratulate yourself
Etymology
From Latin congratulor, "to wish someone joy together with others" — from con- ("with") + gratulari ("to show joy"), related to gratus ("pleasing").
Full origin of congratulate →Frequently asked questions
What does “congratulate” mean?
The word “congratulate” means to tell someone you are happy for them about something good that has happened. In plain terms, to praise someone for good news, or to feel proud of yourself.
How do you pronounce “congratulate”?
“Congratulate” is pronounced kuhn-GRACH-uu-layt (/kənˈɡɹæd͡ʒ.ʊˌleɪt/ in IPA).
How do you use “congratulate” in a sentence?
Here is “congratulate” used in a sentence: “We congratulated her on passing her final exams.”
What part of speech is “congratulate”?
“Congratulate” is a verb.
Where does the word “congratulate” come from?
The word “congratulate” comes from Latin. From Latin congratulor, "to wish someone joy together with others" — from con- ("with") + gratulari ("to show joy"), related to gratus ("pleasing").
Is “congratulate” a common word?
“Congratulate” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “congratulate” have?
“Congratulate” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to tell someone you are happy for them about something good that has happened.
What is the difference between "congratulate" and "praise"?
Congratulate means to tell someone you are happy for them about something good that has happened, such as a win, promotion, or achievement. Praise is broader and expresses approval of a quality or effort, not necessarily tied to a specific happy event. You congratulate someone on passing an exam, but you might praise them for their hard work throughout the year.
Do you say "congratulate on" or "congratulate for"?
"Congratulate" is most naturally followed by "on," as in "I congratulate you on your promotion." "Congratulate for" is sometimes heard but is less standard in careful English.
What does it mean to "congratulate yourself"?
To congratulate yourself uses the reflexive sense of the verb, meaning to feel pleased with yourself about something you did or achieved. It can be used sincerely, or ironically to suggest someone is being smug about a small or premature success.
