French word

gratifier

Pronunciation

IPA/gʁatifje/

Meaning

  • verbreward

Example

Le patron l'a gratifié d'une prime pour son travail.

The boss rewarded him with a bonus for his work.

Illustration for gratifier (reward)

More examples

Il m'a gratifié d'un sourire ce matin.

He delighted me with a smile this morning.

Core concept

A deserving person receives a bonus, benefit, or mark of appreciation from someone in authority.

Common phrases

  • gratifier quelqu'un d'un sourire

    delight someone with a smile

  • gratifier quelqu'un d'un compliment

    delight someone with a compliment

Similar words

récompenser: To reward effort or results with a prize or money.
offrir: To offer an item or service to someone.
donner: To give an item or help to someone.
féliciter: To congratulate and praise someone for an action in speech or writing.

Definition in French

Accorder à quelqu'un une récompense, un avantage ou un signe de reconnaissance en retour d'une action ou d'un mérite.

Word origin

French gratifier comes through Old French from Latin gratificari, related to gratus, meaning pleasing or thankful, and originally expressed doing someone a favor.

Usage tips

  • Gratifier quelqu'un de quelque chose is a formal construction in which the recipient comes before de and the reward follows it, as in gratifié d'une prime.

Other meanings

  • satisfyverb
  • pleaseverb

Opposites

Related words

  • gratificationrewardnoun
  • gratifiantrewardingadjective
  • gratifiérewardedadjective

Word lists with this word