congratulate

[ kuhn-grach-uh-leyt or, often, -graj-, kuhng- ]
See synonyms for congratulate on Thesaurus.com
verb (used with object),con·grat·u·lat·ed, con·grat·u·lat·ing.
  1. to express pleasure to (a person), as on a happy occasion: They congratulated him on his marriage.

  2. Archaic. to express sympathetic joy or satisfaction at (an event).

  1. Obsolete. to salute.

Origin of congratulate

1
1540–50; <Latin congrātulātus, past participle of congrātulārī.See congratulant, -ate1

Other words from congratulate

  • con·grat·u·la·tor, noun
  • pre·con·grat·u·late, verb (used with object), pre·con·grat·u·lat·ed, pre·con·grat·u·lat·ing.
  • un·con·grat·u·lat·ed, adjective
  • un·con·grat·u·lat·ing, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

British Dictionary definitions for congratulate

congratulate

/ (kənˈɡrætjʊˌleɪt) /


verb(tr)
  1. (usually foll by on) to communicate pleasure, approval, or praise to (a person or persons); compliment

  2. (often foll by on) to consider (oneself) clever or fortunate (as a result of): she congratulated herself on her tact

  1. obsolete to greet

Origin of congratulate

1
C16: from Latin congrātulārī, from grātulārī to rejoice, from grātus pleasing

Derived forms of congratulate

  • congratulation, noun
  • congratulator, noun
  • congratulatory or congratulative, adjective

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