Meaning & use
gratifying
Last updated
Meanings
adjectivecomparableapproving
Giving you a deep feeling of satisfaction, especially because it shows that your effort or hope has paid off.
Grammar: Can follow a linking verb: it was gratifying. Often followed by to: gratifying to see.
Patterns
- gratifying to do something
- it is gratifying that
- gratifying for someone
It was gratifying to see my students pass the exam.
The gratifying response from readers encouraged her to keep writing.
Finishing the marathon was a gratifying moment.
adjectivecomparableformal
Pleasing in a way that satisfies a wish or a desire, often a simple pleasure.
Grammar: Usually used about experiences, results or feelings.
Patterns
- a gratifying result
The cool breeze after the hot walk was gratifying.
He found it gratifying to hear his name called at the ceremony.
Word forms
| comparative | more gratifying |
|---|---|
| superlative | most gratifying |
Common combinations
- deeply gratifying
- Teaching her grandson to read was deeply gratifying.
- gratifying to see
- It is gratifying to see the garden bloom.
- a gratifying result
- The experiment produced a gratifying result.
- gratifying experience
- Volunteering was a gratifying experience.
- find it gratifying
- He found it gratifying that so many people came.
Synonyms and how they differ
- satisfying
- Satisfying is more everyday and covers any need being met, while gratifying suggests pride or reward.
- rewarding
- Rewarding highlights that the effort was worth it, whereas gratifying focuses on the pleasant feeling.
- pleasing
- Pleasing is lighter and may describe something just nice, but gratifying is more heartfelt.
- fulfilling
- Fulfilling suggests meaningful, lasting satisfaction, usually about a job or life, while gratifying can describe a single moment.
Opposites
Word family
- gratify verb
- to please or satisfy someone
- gratification noun
- a feeling of pleasure or satisfaction
- gratifyingly adverb
- in a satisfying way
- gratified adjective
- pleased and satisfied
- ungratifying adjective
- not giving satisfaction
Commonly confused: gratifying or grateful? gratifying or gratuitous?
gratifying vs grateful
Grateful means feeling thanks toward someone. Gratifying describes something that gives you pleasure.
gratifying vs gratuitous
Gratuitous means unnecessary or without reason, and is not about satisfaction.
Practice
After months of hard work, the positive reviews were extremely ___.
Choose one answer.
Gratifying describes something that brings satisfaction. Grateful describes a person who feels thanks, so it cannot describe reviews.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “gratifying”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.