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

While the authors argue that spacetime coordinates are matrices, Minic said “I do not see any deep consequences of that statement! What happens to quantum correlations in that matrix valued spacetime? Do they satisfy the quantum Bell bound? How is the quantum probability computed? Is the Born rule still valid? Are there any new testable predictions?”

From Salon

He's a bottomless pit when it comes to his need for narcissistic energy and fuel. 20,000 cheering people would not satisfy Trump.

From Salon

Nothing else can satisfy them.

From Salon

Badenoch’s backers are sure that she can satisfy the first task of opposition, getting noticed.

From BBC

She said she’s not certain that Apple’s notification is sufficient to satisfy all-party recording laws.

From Slate

Related Words

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