Congratulate — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb /kən-ˈgra-chə-ˌlāt/ con·grat·u·late

Meaning & Definition of Congratulate

Congratulate (verb)

  1. to express vicarious pleasure to (a person) on the occasion of success or good fortune; also, to feel pleased with
  2. to express sympathetic pleasure at (an event)
  3. salute, greet

Congratulate (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to express to (someone) admiration for his or her success or good fortune

    "let me be the first to congratulate you on winning the award"

    similar: compliment, felicitate, hug
    related: applaud, cheer, commend, hail, salute, extol, glorify, laud, praise
    near: bad-mouth, belittle, cry down, decry, deprecate, depreciate, diminish, discount, disparage, minimize, put down, write off, jeer, mock, ridicule, taunt, tease

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Congratulate

The most common words with a similar meaning to Congratulate:

compliment, felicitate, hug

Related Words for Congratulate

applaud, cheer, commend, hail, salute, extol, glorify, laud, praise

Near Antonyms of Congratulate

bad-mouth, belittle, cry down, decry, deprecate, depreciate, diminish, discount, disparage, minimize, put down, write off, jeer, mock, ridicule, taunt, tease

Word Forms of Congratulate

Inflections: congratulated, congratulating

Derived words: congratulator (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Congratulate

Latin congratulatus, past participle of congratulari to wish joy, from com- + gratulari to wish joy, from gratus pleasing grace

First known use: 1539

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Congratulate

Frequently Asked Questions about Congratulate

What does "Congratulate" mean?

"Congratulate" means to express vicarious pleasure to (a person) on the occasion of success or good fortune; also, to feel pleased with. As a verb, it is defined as: to express vicarious pleasure to (a person) on the occasion of success or good fortune; also, to feel pleased with.

What is another word for "Congratulate"?

Other words for "Congratulate" include compliment, felicitate and hug. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Congratulate" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Congratulate"?

There are 12 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Congratulate". Common alternatives include compliment, felicitate and hug.

How do you use "Congratulate" in a sentence?

Examples of "Congratulate" in a sentence: "let me be the first to congratulate you on winning the award".

Is "Congratulate" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Congratulate" is a verb.

Is "Congratulate" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C1-level word, "Congratulate" is typical of Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE), IELTS band 7.0–8.0, TOEFL iBT 95–113, PTE Academic 76–84, TOEIC Listening & Reading 945+. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Congratulate"?

"Congratulate" is pronounced /kən-ˈgra-chə-ˌlāt/ and divided into syllables as con·grat·u·late.

What is the origin of the word "Congratulate"?

"Congratulate" comes from Latin congratulatus, past participle of congratulari to wish joy, from com- + gratulari to wish joy, from gratus pleasing grace. First known use: 1539.