congratulate
verb /kənˈɡrætʃəleɪt/
/kənˈɡrætʃəleɪt/
Verb Forms
| present simple I / you / we / they congratulate | /kənˈɡrætʃəleɪt/ /kənˈɡrætʃəleɪt/ |
| he / she / it congratulates | /kənˈɡrætʃəleɪts/ /kənˈɡrætʃəleɪts/ |
| past simple congratulated | /kənˈɡrætʃəleɪtɪd/ /kənˈɡrætʃəleɪtɪd/ |
| past participle congratulated | /kənˈɡrætʃəleɪtɪd/ /kənˈɡrætʃəleɪtɪd/ |
| -ing form congratulating | /kənˈɡrætʃəleɪtɪŋ/ /kənˈɡrætʃəleɪtɪŋ/ |
- congratulate somebody (on something) to tell somebody that you are pleased about their success or achievements
- I congratulated them all on their results.
- The authors are to be congratulated on producing such a clear and authoritative work.
Express Yourself Congratulating somebody on an achievement or a family eventCongratulating somebody on an achievement or a family eventWhen someone tells you some good news about their family, or what they have done, you can congratulate them:- Congratulations on your engagement! I hope you'll be very happy.
- Well done for passing your driving test.
- Good job on passing your exams.
- I hear you did very well in your exams/you've got a new job/you've had a baby—congratulations!
- Jo tells me you're getting married—congratulations!
- Thank you very much.
- Oh, thanks!
Extra ExamplesTopics Successc1- I must congratulate you on your excellent exam results.
- Please join me in congratulating Luke on an outstanding season.
- She congratulated me warmly on my performance.
- The President himself is here to personally congratulate the winner.
- The company is to be congratulated on its success.
- The employees should be congratulated for the part they have played in the success.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- heartily
- warmly
- personally
- …
- have to
- must
- want to
- …
- for
- on
- somebody is to be congratulated
- to join somebody in congratulating somebody
- congratulate yourself (on something) to feel pleased and proud because you have achieved something or been successful at something
- You can congratulate yourself on having done an excellent job.
- The organizers are congratulating themselves on attracting record numbers to the event.
Word Originmid 16th cent.: from Latin congratulat- ‘congratulated’, from the verb congratulari, from con- ‘with’ + gratulari ‘show joy’ (from gratus ‘pleasing’).