1
a
: appreciative of benefits received
b
: expressing gratitude
grateful thanks
2
b
: pleasing by reason of comfort supplied or discomfort alleviated
gratefulness
noun
Examples of grateful in a Sentence
The voice quacking at the other end of the line sounded surprised and grateful—a young man's eager voice, thankful for the sudden interruption on an otherwise empty afternoon.
—
Paul Theroux, Granta, Summer 1992
I didn't have to be in love with the man to do this, and my poor body'd probably be grateful to get fed, since it'd been on such a starvation diet.
—Terry McMillan, Waiting to Exhale, 1992
Sergeant James Smith was a company clerk, which meant that he carried his commander's maps, Edwards was grateful to learn.
—Tom Clancy, Red Storm Rising, 1986
I am grateful for the Latin I took and for the emphasis on English grammar, which seems to have faded from the curriculum.
—John Updike, Hugging the Shore, (1983) 1984
The college sent us a grateful acknowledgment of our donation.
I'm grateful to you for your help.
He's grateful for the attention.
Paul Theroux, Granta, Summer 1992
I didn't have to be in love with the man to do this, and my poor body'd probably be grateful to get fed, since it'd been on such a starvation diet.
—Terry McMillan, Waiting to Exhale, 1992
Sergeant James Smith was a company clerk, which meant that he carried his commander's maps, Edwards was grateful to learn.
—Tom Clancy, Red Storm Rising, 1986
I am grateful for the Latin I took and for the emphasis on English grammar, which seems to have faded from the curriculum.
—John Updike, Hugging the Shore, (1983) 1984
The college sent us a grateful acknowledgment of our donation.
I'm grateful to you for your help.
He's grateful for the attention.
Recent Examples on the Web
During Wednesday’s season-opening victory, Dawson Garcia provided many reasons for Gophers men’s basketball fans to be grateful the 6-foot-11 forward wears maroon and gold.
—Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 8 Nov. 2024
Three feet past the finish line, the runner bent at the waist, hands on her knees, exhausted but grateful to be finished.
—Brendan Leonard, Outside Online, 5 Nov. 2024
Be grateful for that, and help him to find his comfort zone.
—Harriette Cole, The Mercury News, 6 Nov. 2024
Lathan is grateful not just to have caught up with Jesse Jackson at the Chicago premiere but to have been working alongside his son.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 4 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for grateful 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 8 Nov. 2024
Three feet past the finish line, the runner bent at the waist, hands on her knees, exhausted but grateful to be finished.
—Brendan Leonard, Outside Online, 5 Nov. 2024
Be grateful for that, and help him to find his comfort zone.
—Harriette Cole, The Mercury News, 6 Nov. 2024
Lathan is grateful not just to have caught up with Jesse Jackson at the Chicago premiere but to have been working alongside his son.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 4 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for grateful
Dictionary Entries Near grateful
Cite this Entry
“Grateful.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grateful. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share