SATISFY (satisfied)

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

Irregular inflected form: satisfied   

 Dictionary entry overview: What does satisfy mean? 

• SATISFY (verb)
  The verb SATISFY has 3 senses:

1. meet the requirements or expectations of

2. make happy or satisfied

3. fill, satisfy or meet a want or need or condtion ro restriction

  Familiarity information: SATISFY used as a verb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• SATISFY (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they satisfy    ... he / she / it satisfies   
Past simple: satisfied   
Past participle: satisfied   
-ing form: satisfying   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Meet the requirements or expectations of

Classified under:

Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

Synonyms:

fulfil; fulfill; live up to; satisfy

Hypernyms (to "satisfy" is one way to...):

conform to; fill; fit; fulfil; fulfill; meet; satisfy (fill, satisfy or meet a want or need or condtion ro restriction)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "satisfy"):

answer; do; serve; suffice (be sufficient; be adequate, either in quality or quantity)

cover (provide for)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Antonym:

fall short of (fail to satisfy, as of expectations, for example)

Derivation:

satisfaction (act of fulfilling a desire or need or appetite)

satisfactory (meeting requirements)

satisfactory (giving satisfaction)

satisfier (any agent capable of producing satisfaction)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Make happy or satisfied

Classified under:

Verbs of feeling

Synonyms:

gratify; satisfy

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "satisfy"):

delight; please (give pleasure to or be pleasing to)

please (give satisfaction)

content (make content)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody

Sentence example:

The performance is likely to satisfy Sue

Antonym:

dissatisfy (fail to satisfy)

Derivation:

satisfier (any agent capable of producing satisfaction)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Fill, satisfy or meet a want or need or condtion ro restriction

Classified under:

Verbs of eating and drinking

Synonyms:

conform to; fill; fit; fulfil; fulfill; meet; satisfy

Context example:

meet a need

Hypernyms (to "satisfy" is one way to...):

cater; ply; provide; supply (give what is desired or needed, especially support, food or sustenance)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "satisfy"):

answer (be satisfactory for; meet the requirements of or serve the purpose of)

appease; quell; stay (overcome or allay)

content (satisfy in a limited way)

feed on; feed upon (be sustained by)

allay; assuage; quench; slake (satisfy (thirst))

fill the bill; fit the bill (be what is needed or be good enough for what is required)

fulfil; fulfill; live up to; satisfy (meet the requirements or expectations of)

accommodate; fit; suit (be agreeable or acceptable to)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

satisfaction (act of fulfilling a desire or need or appetite)

satisfactory (meeting requirements)

satisfactory (giving satisfaction)

satisfier (any agent capable of producing satisfaction)

 Context examples 

The lethargy grows upon her, and though she seems strong and well, and is getting back some of her colour, Van Helsing and I are not satisfied.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

Mrs. Allen was now quite happy—quite satisfied with Bath.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

But this vindication did not satisfy.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

But it was tasteless stuff and did not satisfy.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

But, after all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

To satisfy my curious reader, it may be sufficient to describe Lorbrulgrud.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

Emma had as much reason to be satisfied with the rest of the party as with Mr. Knightley.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

The half hour he had with her, before they went in to dinner, left him supremely happy and supremely satisfied with life.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

Mary was satisfied with the Parsonage as a present home, and Henry equally ready to lengthen his visit.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

I can see that you are not satisfied.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)