grateful
5 synonyms and 1 antonym for grateful, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adj — Feeling or showing thanks and appreciation for something.
Synonyms
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.
Antonyms
How to use grateful
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
grateful for
deeply grateful
grateful to someone
Etymology
From an older sense of "grate" meaning pleasing or agreeable, from Latin grātus ("pleasing, thankful") + -ful.
Full origin of grateful →Frequently asked questions
What does “grateful” mean?
The word “grateful” means feeling or showing thanks and appreciation for something. In plain terms, feeling thankful for something someone did or something good that happened.
How do you pronounce “grateful”?
“Grateful” is pronounced GRAYTFL (/ˈɡɹeɪtf(ə)l/ in IPA).
How do you use “grateful” in a sentence?
Here is “grateful” used in a sentence: “I'm so grateful for all your help this year.”
What part of speech is “grateful”?
“Grateful” is an adjective.
Where does the word “grateful” come from?
The word “grateful” comes from Latin. From an older sense of "grate" meaning pleasing or agreeable, from Latin grātus ("pleasing, thankful") + -ful.
Is “grateful” a common word?
“Grateful” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
What is the difference between "grateful" and "thankful"?
Both express appreciation, but "grateful" often emphasizes appreciation directed toward a person or for a specific kindness received. "Thankful" tends to express relief or gladness that something happened or was avoided, as in "thankful the storm passed." The two overlap and are frequently interchangeable.
Should you say "grateful for" or "grateful to"?
Use "grateful for" before the thing you appreciate, as in "grateful for your help." Use "grateful to" before the person you appreciate, as in "grateful to my teacher." You can combine both: "I'm grateful to you for your support."
What is the difference between "grateful" and "gratified"?
"Grateful" means feeling thankful and appreciative for something you have received. "Gratified" means feeling pleased or satisfied, often because a wish or expectation was met. You are grateful for a gift, but gratified by good news or success.
How is "grateful" spelled — is "greatful" correct?
The correct spelling is "grateful," not "greatful." Although it sounds like "great," it is related to "gratitude" and "gratefulness," all beginning with "grat-." Remembering the link to "gratitude" helps avoid the common misspelling.
