# gratitude

/ˈɡɹætəˌtud/ (US) · /ɡɹˈætɪtjˌuːd/ (UK) · CEFR B1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/gratitude
Updated: 2026-05-02

## Definition

the feeling of being thankful and wanting to say thank you. You feel this when someone does something kind for you.

For teachers: 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.

## Pitfalls

- Not "I have much gratitudes for you" but "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.

## Usage notes

- Commonly paired with the preposition 'for' to indicate the cause, and 'to' or 'towards' to indicate the recipient.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.