noun
gratitude
GRAT-ih-tood/ˈɡrætɪtuːd/
Thankfulness for kindness or help received.
She expresses her gratitude to the neighbor who shovels her sidewalk.
Etymology
Gratus joins the ideas of being pleasing and being thankful; the noun ending makes this a quality or state. English gratitude first meant “good will” before acquiring its familiar sense of thankfulness.
In context
unexpressed gratitude unexpressed appreciation is worthless doesn't do a bit of good to anybody
More examples
- We send the volunteers a card to show our gratitude.
- He feels deep gratitude for his teacher's patience.
- Please accept this small gift as a token of gratitude.
Forms
grateful adjective — Feeling thankful for kindness or help.
ingratitude noun — Lack of thankfulness for kindness received.
Similar words
- thankfulness
- Nearly interchangeable; explicitly names the state of feeling thankful.
- appreciation
- Can recognize value or quality without involving kindness received.