gratulate: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
E (Extremely Rare / Archaic)Archaic / Literary / Poetic / Historical
Quick answer
What does “gratulate” mean?
To express joy or congratulations to (someone) on account of a happy event or personal achievement.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To express joy or congratulations to (someone) on account of a happy event or personal achievement.
Now archaic; an older, poetic, or elevated synonym for 'congratulate'. Historically, it meant to rejoice, show joy, or greet with demonstration of pleasure.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No functional difference in modern usage, as the word is equally obsolete in both varieties. Historical texts from either region may feature it.
Connotations
When used today, it carries a strong connotation of archaism, formality, or deliberate poetic/literary styling.
Frequency
Effectively zero frequency in contemporary corpora for both BrE and AmE.
Grammar
How to Use “gratulate” in a Sentence
[Subject] gratulate [Object] on [Event/Achievement][Subject] gratulate [Object] for [Gerund/Noun Phrase]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “gratulate” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The courtiers moved forward to gratulate the new queen on her accession.
- I gratulate you, sir, on your most timely intervention.
American English
- The citizens gathered to gratulate the general for his victory.
- He wrote to gratulate his friend on the birth of a son.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Only in historical linguistics or analysis of Early Modern English texts.
Everyday
Not used; would sound strange and outdated.
Technical
Not used.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “gratulate”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “gratulate”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “gratulate”
- Using it in modern contexts expecting it to be understood as a standard synonym for 'congratulate'.
- Misspelling as 'gratuliate' or 'gratuilate'.
- Pronouncing it with a hard /g/ as in 'great' instead of /ɡræ/.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, but it is an archaic word. It was used from the 16th to 18th centuries as a synonym for 'congratulate' and is now obsolete in everyday language.
Only if you are writing historical fiction, poetry aiming for an archaic tone, or engaging in a stylistic experiment. In all normal communication, use 'congratulate'.
The related, equally archaic noun is 'gratulation', meaning the act of congratulating or an expression of joy.
Yes. Both derive from Latin 'gratus' meaning 'pleasing, thankful'. 'Gratulate' comes from Latin 'gratulari' (to show joy), while 'gratitude' comes from 'gratitudo' (thankfulness).
To express joy or congratulations to (someone) on account of a happy event or personal achievement.
Gratulate is usually archaic / literary / poetic / historical in register.
Gratulate: in British English it is pronounced /ˈɡrætʃʊleɪt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈɡrætʃəˌleɪt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'GRATulate' as sharing GRATitude for someone's achievement, but with an archaic '-ulate' ending like 'congratulate'.
Conceptual Metaphor
EXPRESSING JOY IS OFFERING A GIFT (archaic).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary reason 'gratulate' is not used in modern English?