gratefully

gratefully — adverb

1. doing or saying something with a warm feeling of thankfulness, usually when some

1.adverbB1
Definition

doing or saying something with a warm feeling of thankfulness, usually when someone has given you help, a gift, or a kind gesture that you did not expect.

Example

Maeve gratefully accepted the scholarship that covered all her tuition fees.

gratefully + accept + concrete gift

The elderly woman smiled gratefully at Noa when he gave up his seat for her.

verb of gesture + gratefully + at [person]

Common collocations
  • gratefully accept
  • gratefully receive
  • gratefully acknowledge
  • smile gratefully
  • nod gratefully
  • gratefully take
Synonyms
  • thankfully

    casual and multi-purpose; can also mean 'fortunately', which gratefully does not

  • appreciatively

    more formal; stresses recognising the value of what was received

  • with gratitude

    phrase; more formal and slightly old-fashioned in tone

Antonyms
  • ungratefully

    direct opposite; describes receiving without showing thanks or taking things for granted

  • resentfully

    receiving help but feeling bitter rather than thankful

Grammar Patterns

gratefully + verb (before main verb)

verb + gratefully (after linking or gesture verb)

gratefully + acknowledge/receive/accept + that-clause or direct object

Usage Note

Most naturally placed before the main verb ('gratefully accepted') or right after a verb of gesture or speech ('smiled gratefully', 'nodded gratefully'). Rarely used at the start of a sentence; doing so gives a noticeably literary tone.

Common Mistakes

She gratefully thanked him for the gift he gave her.
She gratefully accepted the gift he gave her.
'thank' already carries the meaning of gratitude, so 'gratefully thanked' is redundant; pick one expression.
I would gratefully to accept your offer.
I would gratefully accept your offer.
drop 'to' after a modal verb; 'gratefully' directly modifies the bare infinitive 'accept'.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adverb/1

All four describe showing thanks, but they differ in register and scope. 'Gratefully' is the most direct and common adverb — it focuses on the feeling of thankfulness behind an action: 'she gratefully accepted the offer.' 'Thankfully' is more casual and has a second meaning ('fortunately') that 'gratefully' lacks: 'Thankfully, no one got hurt' does not involve gratitude at all. 'Appreciatively' is more formal and stresses recognising the value or quality of what was given: 'he nodded appreciatively at the painting.' 'With gratitude' is a phrase rather than a single word — it sounds more deliberate and is often used in formal letters or public speeches: 'I write with gratitude for your support.' Use 'gratefully' as the everyday default; switch to 'appreciatively' for finer emotional nuance or to 'with gratitude' for a formal register.

gratefully ↗thankfully ↗appreciativelywith gratitude

Common collocations

Phrases

  • gratefully accept
  • gratefully receive
  • gratefully acknowledge
  • smile gratefully
  • nod gratefully

Prepositions

  • gratefully for
  • gratefully to

Etymology

LatinModern English

Formed from the adjective 'grateful' plus the adverb-forming suffix '-ly'. 'Grateful' entered English in the mid-1500s, drawn from the Latin adjective 'gratus' meaning 'pleasing, welcome, thankful'. The older English adjective 'grate' (directly from Latin) had the same meaning but fell out of use, so 'grateful' — possibly influenced by 'gratify' — took its place. The '-ful' ending gives the sense of 'full of thanks', and by adding '-ly' English turns the quality into a way of acting.