satisfy

[ sat-is-fahy ]

verb (used with object)

, sat·is·fied, sat·is·fy·ing.

1. to fulfill the desires, expectations, needs, or demands of (a person, the mind, etc.); give full contentment to:

   The hearty meal satisfied him.

   Synonyms: please, pacify, appease, gratify

2. to put an end to (a desire, want, need, etc.) by sufficient or ample provision:

   The hearty meal satisfied his hunger.

3. to give assurance to; convince:

   to satisfy oneself by investigation.

   Synonyms: persuade

4. to answer sufficiently, as an objection.
5. to solve or dispel, as a doubt.
6. to discharge fully (a debt, obligation, etc.).
7. to make reparation to or for:

   to satisfy an offended person; to satisfy a wrong.

8. to pay (a creditor).
9. Mathematics.
   1. to fulfill the requirements or conditions of:

      to satisfy a theorem.

   2. (of a value of an unknown) to change (an equation) into an identity when substituted for the unknown: x = 2 satisfies 3 x = 6.

verb (used without object)

, sat·is·fied, sat·is·fy·ing.

1. to give satisfaction.

satisfy

/ ˈsætɪsˌfaɪ /

verb

1. also intr to fulfil the desires or needs of (a person)
2. to provide amply for (a need or desire)
3. to relieve of doubt; convince
4. to dispel (a doubt)
5. to make reparation to or for
6. to discharge or pay off (a debt) to (a creditor)
7. to fulfil the requirements of; comply with

   you must satisfy the terms of your lease

8. maths logic to fulfil the conditions of (a theorem, assumption, etc); to yield a truth by substitution of the given value

   x = 3 satisfies x² – 4x + 3 = 0

Derived Forms

• ˈsatisˌfiable, adjective
• ˈsatisˌfier, noun
• ˈsatisˌfyingly, adverb
• ˈsatisˌfying, adjective

Other Words From

• satis·fia·ble adjective
• satis·fier noun
• satis·fying·ly adverb
• satis·fying·ness noun
• non·satis·fying adjective
• outsatis·fy verb (used with object) outsatisfied outsatisfying
• pre·satis·fy verb (used with object) presatisfied presatisfying
• super·satis·fy verb (used with object) supersatisfied supersatisfying
• un·satis·fia·ble adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of satisfy¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English satisfien, from Middle French satisfier, from unattested Vulgar Latin satisficāre (for Latin satisfacere “to do enough”; satisfaction ); -fy

Word History and Origins

Origin of satisfy¹

C15: from Old French satisfier, from Latin satisfacere, from satis enough + facere to make, do

Synonym Study

Satisfy, content refer to meeting one's desires or wishes. To satisfy is to meet to the full one's wants, expectations, etc.: to satisfy a desire to travel. To content is to give enough to keep one from being disposed to find fault or complain: to content oneself with a moderate meal.

Example Sentences

Using his increasing clout to lift up artists striving to achieve their own creative dreams is far more satisfying.

From Los Angeles Times

According to Gallup, on the eve of the election in 1996, just 39 percent said they were satisfied with how things were going in the country, but Bill Clinton won reelection in a rout.

From Salon

Part 2, “Painter-God,” is the more satisfying, zeroing in on the experimentation that drove his unique art and engineering, which fantasized flying machines, weapons of war and designs for urban infrastructure.

From Los Angeles Times

"We need an international education system that has managed growth built in… it’s not for the minister to unilaterally decide on caps based on some formula which satisfies a political end."

From BBC

The results further revealed that nearly 90% of the patients were satisfied with the telemedicine experience, with one-fifth reporting that they preferred this method of exam over an in-person appointment with a specialist.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• amuse
• appease
• assuage
• delight
• elate
• entertain
• fascinate
• flatter
• gratify
• mollify
• placate