gratulate

[ grach-uh-leyt ]

verb (used with object),grat·u·lat·ed, grat·u·lat·ing.
  1. to hail with joy; express joy at.

  2. to congratulate.

verb (used without object),grat·u·lat·ed, grat·u·lat·ing.
  1. to express joy.

Origin of gratulate

1
1550–60; <Latin grātulātus (past participle of grātulārī to express joy), equivalent to grātul- express joy, congratulate, thank (derivative of grātus pleasing) + -ātus-ate1

Other words from gratulate

  • grat·u·la·to·ri·ly [grach-uh-luh-tawr-uh-lee, -tohr-], /ˈgrætʃ ə ləˌtɔr ə li, -ˌtoʊr-/, adverb
  • grat·u·la·to·ry, adjective

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How to use gratulate in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for gratulate

gratulate

/ (ˈɡrætjʊˌleɪt) /


verb(tr) archaic
  1. to greet joyously

  2. to congratulate

Origin of gratulate

1
C16: from Latin grātulārī, from grātus pleasing

Derived forms of gratulate

  • gratulant, adjective
  • gratulation, noun
  • gratulatory, 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