gratitude
GRAT-i-tood
/ˈɡræt.ɪ.tjuːd/
The quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness.
Refers to deep emotional appreciation rather than casual politeness.
The story behind the word. From Medieval Latin 'gratitudo', derived from classical Latin 'gratus' meaning pleasing or agreeable. It entered Middle English through Old French, maintaining its meaning of sincere inner thankfulness.
Word relationships
- thankfulness: Thankfulness is more colloquial and personal.
- appreciation: Appreciation can also mean understanding the value or quality of something.
- ingratitude: Ingratitude represents a lack of appreciation or unthankfulness.
Commonly confused with
- gratuity: A gratuity is a tip of money given to service personnel.
Word family
- grateful (adjective): Feeling or showing thanks.
- gratefully (adverb): In a thankful manner.
Collocations
- deep gratitude
- express gratitude
- token of gratitude
- heartfelt gratitude
Idioms & expressions
- with boundless gratitude
Example sentences
- "Martha expressed her deep gratitude to the town residents who had supported the library for decades." Farewell acceptance speech
- "The executive board presented him with a silver clock as a token of gratitude for his service." Corporate gift presentation
Memory hook
Gratus = Great attitude of being thankful. A great attitude of thankfulness.
When not to use
Do not use for superficial or mechanical acknowledgments.
Fun facts
- Psychological studies show that practicing written gratitude daily measurably reduces stress hormones.
Explore more words
gracious, tribute, delighted, affectionate, tenderness, beneficence
Also appears in
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