thankful

adjective

thank·​ful ˈthaŋk-fəl How to pronounce thankful (audio)
Synonyms of thankfulnext
1
: conscious of benefit received
for what we are about to receive make us truly thankful
2
: expressive of thanks
thankful service
3
: well pleased : glad
was thankful that it didn't rain
thankfulness noun

Synonyms

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of thankful in a Sentence

Everyone was thankful to hear the good news. we were thankful that someone else was footing the bill for the lavish wedding banquet
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Future you—the one who’s trying to get dinner on the table for your party of nine—will be thankful. — Alaina Chou, Bon Appetit Magazine, 3 Apr. 2025 Rubio told the minister to be thankful that the Russians are not standing on the Polish border right now. — Jason D. Greenblatt, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Apr. 2025 Vance berated Zelenskyy for not being thankful for the support the U.S. has provided Ukraine. — Hannah Demissie, ABC News, 26 Mar. 2025 Kevin O'Connell has not named McCarthy as his starter, which is something McCarthy is thankful about. — Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 25 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for thankful

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of thankful was before the 12th century

Phrases Containing thankful

Browse Nearby Words

thankee
thankful
thankfully
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Thankful.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/thankful. Accessed 13 Apr. 2025.

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Kids Definition

thankful

adjective
thank·​ful ˈthaŋk-fəl How to pronounce thankful (audio)
: feeling or showing thanks
thankfully
-fə-lē
adverb
thankfulness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on thankful

Nglish: Translation of thankful for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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