DictionaryAI

satisfy

verb
SAT-is-fy/ˈsætɪsfaɪ/

Formssatisfies, satisfying, satisfied

7 meanings of satisfy

Practice

  1. 1
    verbtransitive or intransitive
    To give someone what they need or want.

    Nothing seems to satisfy him these days, no matter what we do.

    The big family dinner satisfied everyone at the table.

    Similarplease, content, gratify, suit, appease

    Oppositedisappoint, dissatisfy, displease

  2. 2
    verbtransitive or intransitive
    To give what a need, rule, or demand asks for.

    This snack will satisfy your hunger until dinner.

    Her test score satisfied the rule for joining the team.

    Similarsupply

    Note
  3. 3
    verbtransitive or intransitive
    To be enough for what someone wants or needs.

    A bowl of soup will satisfy on a cold day.

    Sometimes a kind word satisfies more than a gift.

    Similarsuffice, serve, do

    Note
  4. 4
    verbtransitive
    To end a debt or legal claim by paying what is owed.

    He sold his car to satisfy the debt.

    The insurance money satisfied her claim after the accident.

    Similardischarge, settle, pay, meet

    Note
  5. 5
    verbtransitive
    To pay all the money that is asked for or owed.

    She used her savings to satisfy the bill in full.

    The company satisfied the invoice within thirty days.

    Similarpay, settle, discharge, clear, repay

    Note
  6. 6
    verbtransitive
    To make a statement in math or logic come out true.

    Like finding the right key that fits a lock and makes it open.

    Only one number can satisfy this equation.

    The pair (2, 5) satisfied all the conditions in the problem.

    Similarfulfill, meet

    Note

Less common meaning

  1. 7
    verbdatedtransitive
    To make someone feel sure that something is true.

    A quick look outside satisfied her that the storm had passed.

    I was resolved to satisfy myself whether this ragged Elijah was really dogging us or not, and with that intent crossed the way with Queequeg, and on that side of it retraced our steps.
    1851, Herman Melville, Moby-DickHere, satisfy myself means to find out for sure and remove all doubt.

    Similarconvince, assure, persuade, reassure

    Note

Practice

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Origin

From Latin satisfacere, from satis meaning "enough" plus facere meaning "to make or do." It came into English through Old French.