grateful
Feeling or showing thankfulness for something you have received.
Word facts
Definition
Grateful means feeling or showing thankfulness for something kind, helpful, or valuable you have received. When you are grateful, you recognize what someone has done for you and you appreciate it sincerely.
Usage: Grateful is often followed by 'for' (grateful for your help) or 'to' (grateful to you for helping). The common spelling error 'greatful' comes from confusing the Latin root grat- with the English word 'great'.
Many people write 'greatful' — but the correct spelling is grateful with 'grat-' (from Latin gratus), not 'great-'.
Example sentences
- 1
She was deeply grateful for all the support she received during her long recovery.
- 2
He sent a handwritten note to his teacher, grateful for the extra help before the exams.
- 3
Being grateful for small things each day can genuinely improve your sense of well-being.
Word family
From Latin gratus ('pleasing, thankful'). Related to 'grace', 'gratis' (free of charge), and 'gratitude'. The suffix -ful means 'full of', so grateful literally means 'full of gratefulness'.
A common mistake is spelling it 'greatful' — but it is grateful with a 't' in grate-, not 'great'. Think: grat- (from gratitude) + ful. You are full of gratitude.
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FAQ
Questions people ask
How do you spell grateful?
Grateful is spelled g-r-a-t-e-f-u-l. A frequent mistake is writing 'greatful' — but the word comes from grat- (Latin for thankful), not 'great'.
How many syllables does grateful have?
Grateful has 2 syllables: grate-ful. The stress is on the first syllable.
What is the noun form of grateful?
The noun form is gratitude. Example: She expressed her sincere gratitude for the generous gift.
What is the adverb form of grateful?
The adverb form is gratefully. Example: She gratefully accepted the offer.