congratulate
kuhn-GRACH-uu-layt
Congratulate (verb) means to tell someone you are happy for them about something good that has happened. Example: “We congratulated her on passing her final exams.”
verb
1
To tell someone you are happy for them about something good that has happened.
"We congratulated her on passing her final exams."
"He sent a card to congratulate them on their engagement."
"I want to congratulate you on finishing the marathon, which was a huge achievement."
2
To feel pleased with yourself about something.
"He quietly congratulated himself on a job well done."
"After the presentation went smoothly, she congratulated herself and ordered a coffee."
"You can congratulate yourself, because you worked hard to earn that result."
How to use congratulate
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo praise someone for good news, or to feel proud of yourself.
Common pairings
congratulate someone on
congratulate yourself
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- congratulates
- Past tense
- congratulated
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
We _____ her on passing her final exams.
Etymology
From Latin congratulor, "to wish someone joy together with others" — from con- ("with") + gratulari ("to show joy"), related to gratus ("pleasing").
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for congratulate
See all rhymes for 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.
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