Word
flattered
Phoneticsflat·tered
US/ˈfɫætɝd/
UK/flˈætəd/
Definition
adj. feeling pleased and proud because someone has said something good about you or shown you respect.
adj. feeling gratified or honored by praise, attention, or a specific gesture of respect. Often used predicatively after linking verbs such as 'feel' or 'be'.
Examples
“I was flattered when she asked for my advice.”
“He felt deeply flattered that the committee invited him to give the opening speech at the conference.”
“While she was flattered by the sudden media attention, she remained cautious about how it might affect her privacy in the long term.”
Examples
simple
“I was flattered when she asked for my advice.”
contextual
“He felt deeply flattered that the committee invited him to give the opening speech at the conference.”
complex
“While she was flattered by the sudden media attention, she remained cautious about how it might affect her privacy in the long term.”
Usage
Often follows linking verbs like 'feel', 'be', or 'seem'. Frequently takes a 'that' clause or an infinitive ('flattered to meet you').
Pitfall
I was flattering by the news
I was flattered by the news
Learners often confuse the -ed adjective (the feeling) with the -ing adjective (the thing causing the feeling).
Real-World Examples
“Many of those working for ministers have their own ambitions within the party and would be flattered by the attention.” Scan code
englishreference.com/q/flattered