Gratified
adj.joyful, hopefulformal
What it means
Pleased and satisfied because a hoped-for effort, response, or result has occurred.
Reach for it when describing measured satisfaction tied to a particular outcome
The tutor was gratified by the student's growing confidence.
Choose between these
6- everyday
moderate positive feeling is all the context needs
not when Pleased may come from preference alone, while gratified suggests fulfillment.
- warm
the welcome result produces lively happiness
not when Delighted is stronger and less restrained than gratified.
- warm
the outcome answers a deep purpose or long-held aim
not when Fulfilled describes broader meaning and can overstate one encouraging result.
- professional
reassured
new evidence reduces a specific concern
not when Reassured can occur without pleasure or a sense of accomplishment.
- professional
the result meets a standard or expectation
not when Satisfied can be emotionally neutral and may imply no delight.
- literary
the result restores confidence or courage
not when Heartened concerns renewed hope, not satisfaction with achievement.
Said against
3- disappointed
- dissatisfied
- displeased
It naturally appears in
3- deeply gratified
She was deeply gratified that former pupils returned for the opening.
- gratified to learn
The engineers were gratified to learn that the repair survived winter.
- feel gratified
Volunteers can feel gratified without taking credit from the residents.
The word family
3Where this comes from
- Wiktionary, English adjective sense: pleased or satisfied opens in a new tab · retrieved 2026-07-26
The definition and the example on this page are written here. The dictionaries above ground which meaning is being described, not the wording.