sate
C1Formal/Literary
Definition
Meaning
to satisfy fully or to excess; to glut
To gratify completely, often to the point of weariness or distaste; to cloy with indulgence
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Often carries connotations of overindulgence; implies satisfaction beyond normal desire, sometimes with negative overtones
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage between British and American English
Connotations
Both varieties maintain the formal/literary register with similar negative overtones of excess
Frequency
Equally uncommon in both varieties, primarily found in formal writing and literature
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
sate [sb] with [sth]sate [sb]'s [desire/appetite/curiosity]be sated by/with [sth]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Sate to the gills”
- “Sate to bursting”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rarely used; possible in marketing: 'The new product sated consumer demand for premium features'
Academic
Found in literary criticism, psychology, and sociology texts discussing consumption or desire
Everyday
Very uncommon in casual speech; considered formal/pretentious if used conversationally
Technical
Occasionally used in nutritional science or consumer behavior studies
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The lavish banquet sated even the heartiest appetite.
- She sated her curiosity by reading all the available documents.
- After years of travel, he felt sated with new experiences.
American English
- The buffet sated everyone at the party.
- He sated his thirst for knowledge with intensive study.
- The movie's violent scenes sated the audience's desire for action.
adverb
British English
- Not used as adverb
American English
- Not used as adverb
adjective
British English
- The sated guests declined coffee.
- A sated market showed little interest in new products.
- With sated appetite, he turned to other matters.
American English
- Sated customers stopped buying the product.
- The sated lion lay in the shade.
- Her sated curiosity left her peaceful.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The big meal sated his hunger.
- She sated her thirst with cold water.
- The detailed report sated the committee's need for information.
- Travel sated his desire for new experiences.
- The novel's intricate plot sated even the most demanding literary critic.
- After years of research, her intellectual curiosity remained unsated.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'SATE' as 'SATiate Excessively' - both starting with SAT and meaning to fill completely
Conceptual Metaphor
DESIRE IS CONTAINER (filling it to overflowing)
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- False friend: Not related to Russian 'сать' (childish for 'to sit')
- Don't confuse with 'satiate' though closely related
- Avoid translating as просто 'удовлетворять' - implies excessive satisfaction
Common Mistakes
- Confusing with 'sat' (past of sit)
- Using in informal contexts where 'fill' or 'satisfy' would be natural
- Misspelling as 'sait' or 'satte'
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'sate' correctly?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
They are very close synonyms, but 'sate' is slightly more literary and often implies more excessive satisfaction.
It's quite formal and would sound unusual in casual speech. 'Satisfy' or 'fill' are more common choices.
Not always negative, but it often implies satisfaction to the point of excess or weariness, which can carry mildly negative overtones.
Confusing it with 'sat' (past tense of sit) or using it in inappropriate registers where simpler words would be better.