| English Dictionary |
CONGRATULATE
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
| IPA (US): |  |
Dictionary entry overview: What does congratulate mean?
• CONGRATULATE (verb)
The verb CONGRATULATE has 4 senses:
1. say something to someone that expresses praise
2. express congratulations
3. be proud of
4. pride or congratulate (oneself) for an achievement
Familiarity information: CONGRATULATE used as a verb is uncommon.
Dictionary entry details
| Conjugation: |
... he / she / it congratulates Past simple: congratulated
Past participle: congratulated
-ing form: congratulating
Sense 1
Meaning:
Say something to someone that expresses praise
Classified under:
Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing
Synonyms:
compliment; congratulate
Context example:
He complimented her on her last physics paper
Hypernyms (to "congratulate" is one way to...):
praise (express approval of)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s somebody
Somebody ----s somebody PP
Derivation:
congratulation ((usually plural) an expression of pleasure at the success or good fortune of another)
congratulatory (expressive of sympathetic pleasure or joy on account of someone's success or good fortune)
Sense 2
Meaning:
Express congratulations
Classified under:
Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing
Synonyms:
congratulate; felicitate
Hypernyms (to "congratulate" is one way to...):
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s somebody
Somebody ----s somebody PP
Derivation:
congratulation (the act of acknowledging that someone has an occasion for celebration)
congratulation ((usually plural) an expression of pleasure at the success or good fortune of another)
congratulatory (expressive of sympathetic pleasure or joy on account of someone's success or good fortune)
Sense 3
Meaning:
Be proud of
Classified under:
Verbs of feeling
Synonyms:
Context example:
He prides himself on making it into law school
Hypernyms (to "congratulate" is one way to...):
experience; feel (undergo an emotional sensation or be in a particular state of mind)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s somebody PP
Derivation:
congratulation ((usually plural) an expression of pleasure at the success or good fortune of another)
congratulatory (expressive of sympathetic pleasure or joy on account of someone's success or good fortune)
Sense 4
Meaning:
Pride or congratulate (oneself) for an achievement
Classified under:
Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing
Synonyms:
congratulate; preen
Hypernyms (to "congratulate" is one way to...):
crow; gloat; triumph (dwell on with satisfaction)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s
Derivation:
congratulation (the act of acknowledging that someone has an occasion for celebration)
congratulatory (expressive of sympathetic pleasure or joy on account of someone's success or good fortune)
Context examples
I was half afraid to put the idea into your head, lest you should write and congratulate them before the thing was settled.
(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)
“Well, ma'am,” resumed Mr. Chillip, as soon as he had courage, “I am happy to congratulate you. All is now over, ma'am, and well over.”
(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)
Gentlemen, you may congratulate me and we may congratulate each other. The problem is solved.
(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
Catherine wished to congratulate him, but knew not what to say, and her eloquence was only in her eyes.
(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)
Ere long, I had reason to congratulate myself on the course of wholesome discipline to which I had thus forced my feelings to submit.
(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)
The boys congratulated him, and told him that he had licked Cheese-Face.
(Martin Eden, by Jack London)
In that case, said Holmes, rising, I think that my friend and I can congratulate ourselves upon several most happy results from our little visit to the North.
(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
I must congratulate you, Inspector, on handling so distinctive and instructive a case.
(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
He congratulated him warmly, and confessed that he had always underrated his intelligence.
(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
My dear fellow, I congratulate you.
(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
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