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congratulate Definition

con·gratu·late (kən grac̸h′ə lāt′, -graj′-)

transitive verb -·lat′ed, -·lat′·ing

  1. to express to (a person) one's pleasure at good fortune or success; felicitate congratulate the winner
  2. Obsolete to rejoice at; celebrate
  3. Obsolete to greet; hail

Etymology: < L congratulatus, pp. of congratulari < com,- together + gratulari, to wish joy < gratus, agreeable: see grace

congratulate Related Forms

con·grat′u·la′·tor noun con·grat′u·la·to′ry (---lə tôr′ē) adjective

congratulate Synonyms

congratulate

v.

felicitate, wish joy to, toast; see compliment 2, praise 1, salute 2.

congratulate Usage Examples

Object

  • Hon: View All ISSUES FEATURES Andrew George's speech on African poverty 18 October 2005 " I congratulate the hon.
  • winner: Sports Minister Alun Pugh was on hand to congratulate the winners.
  • everyone: I would like to congratulate everyone involved for all their hard work.
  • yourselves: Alan said: Well next April when the huge council tax bill lands on your doorstep will you be congratulating yourselves?
  • organizer: Councilor Barr said that the event had been a great success and congratulated the organizers.
  • everybody: Then in September, First Minister Jack McConnell wrote to congratulate everybody involved in the project.

Preposition: on

  • achievement: The NHS should be congratulated on this excellent achievement.
  • success: Lindsay Millington and John Coles are to be congratulated on the success so far.
  • effort: They are to be congratulated on a very fine effort.
  • result: Schools and young people are to be congratulated on these results.
  • performance: Both teams should be congratulated on a superb performance which gave the spectators a game to remember.
  • quality: The relevant members of the Education Department staff are to be congratulated on the quality of the bid submitted to the New Opportunities Fund.

Preposition: for

  • effort: Everyone at the NSS deserves congratulating for the huge effort they put in to lobby against it.
  • work: VCI and Kit Parker Films should be heartily congratulated for the fine work they have done with this exemplary presentation.

Modifying Another Word

  • heartily: July 11, 1906 We heartily congratulate the Great Northern Railroad Company on having brought Newark within two hours of the bracing Lincolnshire coast.
  • warmly: Most of all, however, I warmly congratulate all the new Silks.
  • personally: Out of 500 nominations in the environment category alone, Samuel's work clearly impressed judges who personally congratulated him for his outstanding contribution.
  • publicly: Dear Editor We would like to publicly congratulate the members of the Junior Pantomime Chorus.
  • formally: Ward Councilor Douglas Currie also attended to formally congratulate Neil.
  • again: I end by again congratulating the Minister on an extraordinary piece of work in such a short time.