congratulate
[ kuhn-grach-uh-leyt or, often, -graj-, kuhng- ]
verb (used with object),con·grat·u·lat·ed, con·grat·u·lat·ing.
to express pleasure to (a person), as on a happy occasion: They congratulated him on his marriage.
Archaic. to express sympathetic joy or satisfaction at (an event).
Obsolete. to salute.
Origin of congratulate
1Other 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)
(usually foll by on) to communicate pleasure, approval, or praise to (a person or persons); compliment
(often foll by on) to consider (oneself) clever or fortunate (as a result of): she congratulated herself on her tact
obsolete to greet
Origin of congratulate
1C16: from Latin congrātulārī, from grātulārī to rejoice, from grātus pleasing
Derived forms of congratulate
- congratulation, noun
- congratulator, noun
- congratulatory or congratulative, adjective
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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