Word
gratitude
Phoneticsgrat·i·tude, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈɡɹætəˌtud/
UK/ɡɹˈætɪtjˌuːd/
Uncountable noun
Definition
n. the feeling of being thankful and wanting to say thank you. You feel this when someone does something kind for you.
n. the quality of being thankful; a readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness.
Examples
“She expressed her deep gratitude for all their help.”
“The local community showed their gratitude by hosting a dinner for the volunteers who helped after the storm.”
“Cultivating a sense of daily gratitude is often recommended by psychologists as a practical method for improving overall emotional resilience and long-term life satisfaction.”
Examples
simple
“She expressed her deep gratitude for all their help.”
contextual
“The local community showed their gratitude by hosting a dinner for the volunteers who helped after the storm.”
complex
“Cultivating a sense of daily gratitude is often recommended by psychologists as a practical method for improving overall emotional resilience and long-term life satisfaction.”
Usage
Commonly paired with the preposition 'for' to indicate the cause, and 'to' or 'towards' to indicate the recipient.
Pitfall
I have much gratitudes for you
I have much gratitude for you
Gratitude is uncountable and does not take a plural form even when describing many different reasons for being thankful.
Etymology
From French gratitude, from Medieval Latin grātitūdō (“thankfulness”), from Latin grātus (“thankful”). Displaced native Old English þancung.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- 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
- Frequent
- Level
- B1 · Intermediate
- Updated
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