# satisfy

/ˈsætəsˌfaɪ/ (US) · /sˈætɪsfˌaɪ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/satisfy
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. to please someone

verb · CEFR B1

to make someone happy by giving them what they want or need.

For teachers: to fulfill the desires, expectations, or needs of a person, making them content.

- The restaurant worked hard to satisfy every customer who visited that night.
- The final cut of the film managed to satisfy both the demanding critics and the casual moviegoers, a rare feat for a summer blockbuster.

Usage: Often used in the passive voice: 'to be satisfied with'.

### 2. to meet a requirement

verb · CEFR B2

to be good enough for a rule, a need, or a condition.

For teachers: to comply with or fulfill a condition, obligation, or standard.

- You must satisfy all the entry requirements before you can join the course.
- The applicant failed to satisfy the rigorous criteria established by the board, leading to an immediate rejection of the proposal.

Usage: Commonly takes an abstract noun as an object, such as 'criteria', 'conditions', or 'demands'.

### 3. to pay a debt

verb · CEFR C1 · Formal

to pay all the money you owe for a bill or a loan.

For teachers: to discharge a financial obligation or legal claim by paying what is due.

- He had to sell his car to satisfy his debts to the bank.
- The court ordered the company to liquidate its remaining assets to satisfy the outstanding claims of its creditors.

Usage: Typically used in legal or formal financial contexts regarding 'claims' or 'debts'.

### 4. to convince

verb · CEFR C2 · Literary · Formal

to provide enough proof so that someone stops doubting you.

For teachers: to free someone from doubt or uncertainty by providing adequate evidence.

- The detective was satisfied that the witness was telling the truth.
- Having examined the original manuscripts, the historian was finally satisfied of the document's authenticity.

Teaching tip: In modern English, 'convince' is much more common; this sense of 'satisfy' often appears in older literature or very formal reports.

### 5. logic/math

verb · CEFR C1 · Technical

to make a mathematical statement or rule true.

For teachers: to make a sentence or equation true when specific values are applied.

- The value of x must satisfy the equation for the answer to be correct.
- The proposed model must satisfy the fundamental laws of thermodynamics to be considered a viable solution for the energy crisis.

## Examples

- The cold water helped satisfy his thirst after the long run.
- The applicant must satisfy all the legal requirements before the government will issue a business license.
- While the initial settlement may satisfy the immediate financial claims, it fails to address the underlying systemic issues that led to the dispute in the first place.

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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.