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

The IRS can offset or take a person’s refund to satisfy those debts.

From Washington Post

Although Williams doesn’t need the Grand Slam record to cement her greatness, it would be satisfying for her and her fans if she completed the task.

From FiveThirtyEight

The only thing in Kansas City more certain to satisfy than burnt ends at Q39 is Kelce on third down.

From Washington Post

Not eating to feel something, or not feel something, or learn something, or report something, or achieve perfect health, or perform perfect taste, but eating to satisfy hunger and to heal, with absolutely no other restrictions in place.

From Eater

Paul Bakaus from Google said, “a one- or two-page teaser for your blog post doesn’t tell a satisfying story to a reader, so Google will do its very best to not show these to users.”

From Search Engine Land

For those with a predilection for immaculately fine and delicate paintings by Botticelli, his Madonna of the Book will satisfy.

From The Daily Beast

Smith, the current police chief, called Lee a “scapegoat” who was “thrown to the wolves” to satisfy political critics.

From The Daily Beast

“Our criminal justice system requires that she be beaten enough to satisfy the system,” Gruelle says in Private Violence.

From The Daily Beast

Typically, Cumming says, the boys would be set an impossible task, or one whose completion would never satisfy their father.

From The Daily Beast

The West trades on its iconography, and many writers satisfy the hunger for that epic, legendary place.

From The Daily Beast

Of course I had to satisfy the ruffian's insolent demands, but I did so under protest.

From Project Gutenberg

But I reasoned with myself and managed to satisfy myself that he must have turned the chair round with his foot.

From Project Gutenberg

It loses all its value just as soon as there is enough of it to satisfy, and over-satisfy the wants of humanity.

From Project Gutenberg

It means enough not to satisfy them, and to leave the selling price of the things made at the point of profit.

From Project Gutenberg

But let it be noted that the "enough" here in question does not mean enough to satisfy human wants.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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