Word
grateful
Phoneticsgrate·ful, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈɡɹeɪtfəɫ/
UK/ɡɹˈeɪtfəl/
Definitions
01thankful
B1 · Intermediate
adj. feeling or showing thanks because someone has done something kind for you.
adj. feeling or expressing gratitude; appreciative of a benefit or kindness received.
日本語:ありがたい※
“I am so grateful for all the help you gave me during the move.”
“The survivors were immensely grateful to the local community for providing food and shelter during the emergency.”
Usage
Commonly follows the pattern 'grateful to someone for something'.
Pitfall
I am grateful of your help.
I am grateful for your help.
Use 'grateful for' followed by the thing you received, or 'grateful to' followed by the person who helped you.
Teaching tip
While 'thankful' and 'grateful' are often interchangeable, 'grateful' is slightly more formal and often implies a deeper sense of personal obligation to a specific benefactor.
Synonyms
Antonyms
02pleasing or welcome
C2 · Proficiency Literary · Archaic
adj. describing something that is very pleasant or welcome, like a cool breeze on a hot day.
adj. affording pleasure or relief; agreeable to the mind or senses.
日本語:ありがたい※
“The shade of the large oak tree was a grateful relief from the burning sun.”
“After days of trekking through the arid desert, the sight of the lush oasis was a grateful spectacle to the exhausted travellers.”
Usage
In modern English, this sense is almost exclusively found in literary descriptions of nature or physical relief.
Antonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “grateful” in context.
Verb
01. appear grateful
“He didn't appear grateful at all when I offered to help him with his luggage.”
verb + adj
02. feel grateful
“She felt grateful for the warm welcome she received from her new neighbors.”
verb + adj
03. grateful for
“I am very grateful for your advice regarding my career choices.”
adj + prep
04. grateful to
“They were extremely grateful to the stranger who found their lost dog.”
adj + prep
05. remain grateful
“Despite the changes, I remain grateful for the opportunity to work here.”
verb + adj
Adjective
06. deeply grateful
“I am deeply grateful for all the support you have given me during this difficult time.”
adv + adj
07. eternally grateful
“We are eternally grateful to the doctors who saved our son's life.”
adv + adj
08. immensely grateful
“The charity is immensely grateful for the generous donations received this month.”
adv + adj
Noun
09. expression of grateful
“A simple thank-you note is a wonderful expression of being grateful.”
noun + prep + adj
10. be grateful that
“We are just grateful that no one was hurt in the accident.”
11. be grateful to somebody
“I would be grateful to you if you could keep this information private.”
12. grateful for small mercies
“The rain stopped just before the wedding started, so we were grateful for small mercies.”
Etymology
From grate (“(obsolete) serving to gratify, agreeable, pleasing; grateful, thankful”) + -ful (suffix forming adjectives with the sense of tending to have or thoroughly having a quality). Grate is a learned borrowing from Latin grātus (“agreeable, pleasing; beloved, dear; grateful, thankful”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *gʷerH- (“to express approval, praise; to elevate”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- B1 · IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/grateful
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0