# ungrateful

/ənˈɡɹeɪtfəɫ/ (US) · /ʌnɡɹˈeɪtfəl/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/ungrateful
Updated: 2026-05-06

## Definition

not feeling or showing thanks for something kind that someone has done for you.

For teachers: failing to acknowledge or express appreciation for benefits received. Often used to describe a person's character or a specific reaction to a gift or favor.

## Examples

- He felt his children were being ungrateful for their gifts.
- She didn't want to sound ungrateful, but the sweater her aunt knitted was three sizes too large.
- The politician's refusal to acknowledge his early supporters was seen as an ungrateful gesture that eventually cost him the loyalty of his core constituency.

## Pitfalls

- Not "he was ungrateful to the gift" but "he was ungrateful for the gift" — Use 'to' for the person who gave the gift, but 'for' for the gift itself.

## Usage notes

- Often follows a linking verb like 'be', 'seem', or 'feel'; frequently takes the preposition 'for' to indicate the cause of the gratitude.

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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.