gratification

noun

grat·​i·​fi·​ca·​tion ˌgra-tə-fə-ˈkā-shən How to pronounce gratification (audio)
Synonyms of gratificationnext
1
: reward, recompense
monetary gratification for a job well done
especially : gratuity
2
: the act of gratifying : the state of being gratified
the gratification of physical appetites
3
: a source of satisfaction or pleasure
found gratification in getting his novel published

Examples of gratification in a Sentence

eating good chocolate gives me a sense of intense gratification
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.
The competition Amazon’s attempt to up the instant gratification ante provides direct competition to on-demand food delivery platforms like Instacart, Uber Eats, DoorDash and Grubhub, which don’t have the scale of the e-commerce titan, according to independent retail analyst Bruce Winder. Anne D’innocenzio, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2026 People want instant gratification. Ruth Umoh, Fortune, 11 May 2026 Uses and gratifications is a functionalist approach that explains audience behavior through individual reward. Encyclopedia Britannica, 8 May 2026 Detractors consider this format both mind-numbing and salacious, engineered for immediate gratification and often focused on cast members’ petty personal grievances and rock-bottom moments. Daisy Jones, Vogue, 2 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for gratification

Word History

Etymology

see gratify

First Known Use

1576, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of gratification was in 1576

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Gratification.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gratification. Accessed 21 May. 2026.

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