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to congratulate

to congratulate

232 2.4
To tell someone you are happy about their success or good news
  • verb
  • /kənˈɡrætʃʊˌleɪt/
translation icon : felicitar
  • I came to congratulate you on your wedding
  • congratulate and thank

And Sawyer, it's just so nice to see you and congratulate you on your fatherhood.

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Examples

  • I sincerely wish to congratulate you on the learning commons transformation.

    Academic text (2015)
  • QUESTION: Mr. O'Grady: Henry, I would like to congratulate you on your work at Nuremberg.

    Academic text (1994)
  • I also want to congratulate you for being here.

  • I think you should congratulate yourself on on your hard work.

  • And it's my great pleasure to welcome you and congratulate you for being here.

  • And while I feel for you, I also congratulate you on the growth.

  • Um, I came here to congratulate you.

  • And I first just want to both thank and congratulate the sponsors of this stunning event.

  • Ladies and gentlemen, I wanna congratulate you on entering the Guinness Book of World Records.

  • I wanted to be the first one to congratulate you on your new job.

Synonyms

to praise
vsto congratulate
331 1.0

To tell a person that you admire or approve of them

is used to celebrate success or special occasions rather than general approval
to applaud
vsto congratulate
136 3.2

To show praise in public for a person or idea

is aimed at marking someone's success or special occasion rather than general approval
to hail
vsto congratulate
  • Literature
131 4.1

To welcome or praise someone publicly and enthusiastically

is used for success or special moments but also for general greeting
to compliment
vsto congratulate
95 1.6

To say something nice about someone or their work

is used mainly for success or occasions rather than casual praise
to commend
vsto congratulate
67 4.4

To praise someone or something for good work

focuses on praising for an achievement or occasion rather than general approval
to acclaim
vsto congratulate
53 4.5

To praise someone in public with great excitement for their success

is used for praising achievements or occasions but can be less personal
to laud
vsto congratulate
  • Formal
30 7.7

To praise someone publicly in a formal way

is praise for success or occasions but less necessarily grand or public
to offer congratulations
vsto congratulate
  • Formal
1 2.8

To tell someone you are happy for their success

has identical meaning but is a more common phrasing
to felicitate
vsto congratulate
  • Formal
9.6

To congratulate someone on a success or special occasion

is similar but used in everyday speech rather than formal use

Antonyms

701 3.3

To say what is wrong with someone or something

298 4.0

To strongly criticize someone or something publicly

How Strong

to laud
  • Formal
30 7.7
to praise
331 1.0
to congratulate
232 2.4
to commend
67 4.4

Surface Forms

congratulate infinitive
congratulated past participle
congratulating present participle
congratulates third person singular

Morphology

congratulate = gratulate (semi-transparent) = con + gratulate

Formally regular (con- + gratulate), but the base 'gratulate' and the Latinate prefix 'con-' are not highly frequent or transparent to average learners.

Etymology

Congratulate comes from the Latin parts con- 'with' and gratus 'pleasing' or 'thankful', the same root as grateful. So, to congratulate someone is to show you are 'with' their pleasure — you share their joy and give praise for their success.