Library / English Dictionary

CONGRATULATE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Say something to someone that expresses praise

Example:

He complimented her on her last physics paper

Synonyms:

compliment; congratulate

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

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

Synonyms:

congratulate; felicitate

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

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

bid; wish (invoke upon)

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:

Pride or congratulate (oneself) for an achievement

Synonyms:

congratulate; preen

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

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)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Be proud of

Example:

He prides himself on making it into law school

Synonyms:

congratulate; plume; pride

Classified under:

Verbs of feeling

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)

Credits

 Context examples: 

I have the infinite satisfaction of congratulating you on your brother's promotion.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

He wrote a letter to poor Mrs. Weston, to congratulate her, and a very proper, handsome letter it was.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

After a pause of several minutes, their silence was broken, by his asking her in a voice of some agitation, when he was to congratulate her on the acquisition of a brother?

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

Let me congratulate you on a very important conquest.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

I must congratulate you on coming into the possession, though in rather a tragic manner of a relic which is of great intrinsic value, but of even greater importance as an historical curiosity.

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

Hump, he said, I beg pardon, Mr. Van Weyden, I congratulate you.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

There was no grumbling, no bickering, nor petty quarrelling in the little cabin, and they often congratulated one another on the general happiness of the party.

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

It was now day-light, and I returned to my house without waiting to congratulate with the emperor: because, although I had done a very eminent piece of service, yet I could not tell how his majesty might resent the manner by which I had performed it: for, by the fundamental laws of the realm, it is capital in any person, of what quality soever, to make water within the precincts of the palace.

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

She found, on reaching home, that she had, as she intended, escaped seeing Mr Elliot; that he had called and paid them a long morning visit; but hardly had she congratulated herself, and felt safe, when she heard that he was coming again in the evening.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

You've improved immensely since then, and I congratulate you.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)