Grateful: Definition, Usage & Common Mistakes

Meaning 1：thankful (grateful)

grateful 🔊

/ˈɡreɪtfəl/

adj.

Feeling or wanting to thank someone for their help or kindness.

Grateful definition illustrated by a person smiling warmly with hands held in thanks.

thankful 🔊

➕

/ˈθæŋkfəl/

adj.

Feeling or showing appreciation for something received or experienced.

📁 Category：Behaviors & Actions 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Latin 'gratus' meaning pleasing or thankful, combined with suffix '-ful'.

💡 Mnemonic

Think of 'great' and 'full' – feeling great and full of thanks.

📖 Example

After her friend helped her move to a new apartment, Sarah felt grateful and sent her a thank-you card. 🔊 Sarah expressed her gratitude by sending a thank-you card after receiving help from her friend.

🔗 Collocations

deeply grateful – extremely thankful

grateful for – thankful because of something

grateful to – thankful towards someone

🔄 Synonyms

thankful (adj.) – feeling or expressing gratitude

appreciative (adj.) – showing recognition of value or kindness

obliged (adj.) – feeling indebted for a favor or service

🚫 Antonyms

ungrateful (adj.) – not showing or feeling gratitude

thankless (adj.) – not appreciated or acknowledged

🌱 Derivatives

gratefully (adv.) – in a thankful manner

gratefulness (n.) – the state of being thankful

📖 Cultural Story

Derived from Latin 'gratus' (pleasing, thankful), entering English via Old French. Commonly used in expressions of thanks, such as in holiday greetings or daily politeness.