Definition of 'congratulate'

Word Frequency

congratulate

(kəngrætʃʊleɪt )

Word forms: 3rd person singular present tense congratulates , present participle congratulating , past tense, past participle congratulated

1. verb

If you congratulate someone, you say something to show you are pleased that something nice has happened to them.

She congratulated him on the birth of his son. [VERB noun + on]

I was delighted with my promotion. Everyone congratulated me. [VERB noun]

[Also VERB noun + for]

Synonyms: compliment, pat on the back, felicitate, wish joy to More Synonyms of congratulate

congratulation (kəngrætʃʊleɪʃən ) uncountable noun

We have received many letters of congratulation.

2. verb

If you congratulate someone, you praise them for something good that they have done.

I really must congratulate the organisers for a well-run and enjoyable event. [V n + for/on]

We specifically wanted to congratulate certain players. [VERB noun]

3. verb

If you congratulate yourself, you are pleased about something that you have done or that has happened to you.

Waterstone has every reason to congratulate himself. [VERB pronoun-reflexive]

Journalists congratulated themselves on the role of the press in the investigations. [V pron-refl on/for -ing/n]

Video: pronunciation of 'congratulate'

Word Frequency

congratulate in British

(kənˈɡrætjʊˌleɪt )

verb (transitive)

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

3. obsolete

to greet

Derived forms

congratulation (conˌgratuˈlation)

noun

congratulator (conˈgratuˌlator)

noun

congratulatory (conˈgratulatory) or congratulative (conˈgratulative)

adjective

Word origin of 'congratulate'

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

Word Frequency

congratulate in American

(kənˈgrætʃəˌleɪt ; kəngrachˈəlātˌ; kənˈgrædʒʊˌleɪt ; kəngrajˈoolātˌ)

verb transitiveWord forms: conˈgratuˌlated or conˈgratuˌlating

to express to (a person) one's pleasure at good fortune or success; felicitate

congratulate the winner

2. Obsolete

to rejoice at; celebrate

3. Obsolete

to greet; hail

Derived forms

congratulator (conˈgratuˌlator)

noun

congratulatory (conˈgratulaˌtory) (kənˈgrætʃələˌtɔri ; kəngrachˈələtôrˌē; kənˌgrætʃʊləˌtɔri ; kəngrachˌoolətôrˌē; kɛnˈgrædʒʊləˌtɔri ; kengrajˈoolətôrˌē; kɛnˈgrædʒuləˌtɔri ; kengrajˈo̅olətôrˌē)

adjective

Word origin of 'congratulate'

< L congratulatus, pp. of congratulari < com,- together + gratulari, to wish joy < gratus, agreeable: see grace

Example sentences containing 'congratulate'

These examples have been automatically selected and may contain sensitive content. Read more…

The audience converged on the actors to congratulate them upon the finer points of their performances. Babson, Marian WEEKEND FOR MURDER (2004)All I could say was a meek: `I congratulate you on your robust views, my Lord. Howatch, Susan ULTIMATE PRIZES (2004)A minor miracle of the medical profession on which they could congratulate themselves. Dobbs, Michael THE TOUCH OF INNOCENTS (2004)

Every man wanted to shake Anson's hand to congratulate him, to tell him how proud they were. Terry Goodkind NAKED EMPIRE (2004)

Trends of 'congratulate'

Used Occasionally. congratulate is one of the 30000 most commonly used words in the Collins dictionary

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Translations for 'congratulate'

British English: congratulate /kənˈɡrætjʊˌleɪt/ VERB

If you congratulate someone, you express pleasure for something good that has happened to them, or you praise them for something they have achieved.

She congratulated him on the birth of his son.

American English: congratulate
Arabic: يُهَنِّئُ
Brazilian Portuguese: parabenizar
Chinese: 庆贺
Croatian: čestitati
Czech: blahopřát
Danish: ønske til lykke
Dutch: feliciteren
European Spanish: felicitar
Finnish: onnitella
French: féliciter
German: gratulieren
Greek: συγχαίρω
Italian: congratularsi
Japanese: 祝う
Korean: 축하하다
Norwegian: lykkeønske
Polish: pogratulować
European Portuguese: felicitar
Romanian: a felicita
Russian: поздравлять
Spanish: felicitar
Swedish: gratulera
Thai: แสดงความยินดี
Turkish: kutlamak
Ukrainian: вітати
Vietnamese: chúc mừng

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Nearby words of 'congratulate'

Source

Definition of congratulate from the Collins English Dictionary

Indefinite pronouns

The indefinite pronouns are used when you do not know or do not need to say precisely who or what you are referring to. The noun phrase which they substitute for can refer to a person, a thing, or a ...