satisfied

satisfied — adjective

1. Feeling happy or content because something you hoped for actually happened, or b

1.adjectiveB1
Definition

Feeling happy or content because something you hoped for actually happened, or because you received what you needed or asked for.

Example

Minh felt satisfied after finishing the last chapter of her novel before the deadline.

satisfied + after + gerund: cause-then-feeling pattern

The children looked satisfied when their father brought home a new puppy.

linking verb pattern: look / seem / feel satisfied

Common collocations
  • satisfied with
  • satisfied customer
  • satisfied smile
  • satisfied look
  • not satisfied
  • completely satisfied
  • perfectly satisfied
Synonyms
  • content

    a quieter, longer-lasting feeling of happiness; less about achieving a goal and more about accepting what you have

  • pleased

    similar intensity but slightly more polite and formal; common in service contexts ('pleased with the service')

  • happy

    broader and more general; can describe many kinds of positive feelings beyond achievement

  • fulfilled

    a deeper sense of satisfaction tied to personal purpose or long-term goals

Antonyms
  • dissatisfied

    the direct opposite; unhappy with what was received or achieved

  • disappointed

    sad because something did not meet your hopes or expectations

  • unsatisfied

    less common; emphasises that a need or desire has not been met

Grammar Patterns

satisfied + with + noun phrase (e.g. satisfied with the result)

satisfied + to-infinitive (to see / to hear / to learn / to know)

satisfied + that-clause (that things turned out well)

Usage Note

Often appears with the preposition 'with' to name what causes the feeling (satisfied with the service, satisfied with the progress). When used before a noun (a satisfied customer, a satisfied smile), it describes a visible sign of contentment. The to-infinitive pattern (satisfied to see / hear / learn) shows the reason for the feeling: something good has come to your attention.

Common Mistakes

You should have been satisfied for your exam results.
You should have been satisfied with your exam results.
'Satisfied' takes the preposition 'with', not 'for'.
I am satisfied to work here because the pay is good.
I am satisfied with working here because the pay is good.
When a verb follows 'satisfied with', use the gerund form (-ing), not the infinitive.

2. Feeling certain that something is correct or true after checking the facts, hear

2.adjectiveB2
Definition

Feeling certain that something is correct or true after checking the facts, hearing an explanation, or seeing enough evidence — for example, being satisfied that a safety check is complete, or that someone's story matches what really happened.

Example

The police were satisfied that the driver had not broken any traffic rules.

formal pattern: be satisfied + that-clause (legal context)

After checking the report twice, João felt satisfied the numbers were all correct.

omitted that in informal construction

Common collocations
  • satisfied that
  • not satisfied
  • remain satisfied
  • court satisfied
  • jury satisfied
Synonyms
  • convinced

    the closest synonym; more common in everyday speech for this meaning

  • certain

    stronger; suggests no doubt at all, while 'satisfied' allows for slight hesitation

  • persuaded

    emphasises that someone or something changed your mind through reasoning

  • assured

    focuses on being made confident by promises or guarantees from others

Antonyms
  • doubtful

    not convinced; still questioning the truth of something

  • uncertain

    not sure; lacking the confidence that 'satisfied' expresses

  • skeptical

    actively doubting or questioning, not just unconvinced

Grammar Patterns

satisfied + that-clause (e.g. satisfied that the door was locked)

satisfied + (zero that) clause in informal use

remain / be not satisfied + that-clause

Usage Note

Distinguish from sense 1 (PLEASED): this sense is about belief and certainty, not happiness. You can be satisfied that a fact is true and still feel unhappy about it. The construction is 'satisfied that + clause' — never 'satisfied with + noun' for this meaning. Common in formal, legal, and investigative contexts.

Common Mistakes

I am satisfied she is guilty' (when you mean you feel happy she is guilty).
I am satisfied she is guilty
This sentence is grammatically correct but ambiguous: outside of context, a reader might think it means 'pleased she is guilty'. Use 'convinced' to avoid confusion, or add a that-clause context: 'After seeing the evidence, I am satisfied that she is guilty.'
The teacher is satisfied with the student's explanation.' (when meaning the teacher believes the explanation is true).
The teacher is satisfied that the student's explanation is correct.
'Satisfied with' usually means 'pleased with' (sense 1). For the convinced meaning, use 'satisfied that + clause'.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All four describe a positive emotional state, but they differ in intensity, duration, and what triggers the feeling. 'Content' is the quietest and most lasting — a general sense that things are good enough, even without excitement (content to sit quietly and read). 'Pleased' is more event-driven: you are pleased because something specific went well (pleased with the exam result). 'Happy' is the broadest and commonest word, covering everything from passing joy to deep life satisfaction, but it is also the vaguest. 'Fulfilled' is the deepest: it describes satisfaction tied to purpose or long-term goals (a fulfilled sense of purpose after raising a family). 'Satisfied' sits between 'content' and 'pleased': it is sharper than content because it requires a specific cause, but less emotional than happy. For example, if a mechanic fixes your car, you feel satisfied — the job is done right; you might not feel joyful about it, but you are not disappointed either.

content ↗pleased ↗happy ↗fulfilled

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

  • very satisfied
  • perfectly satisfied
  • completely satisfied
  • quite satisfied
  • not entirely satisfied
  • less than satisfied

Phrases

  • satisfied with the result
  • satisfied with the progress
  • satisfied customer
  • not satisfied with

Prepositions

  • satisfied with
  • satisfied by

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Satisfied comes from the Latin verb satisfacere, meaning 'to do enough' or 'to make amends' — a compound of satis ('enough') and facere ('to do'). It passed into English through French in the 1400s, first meaning 'to pay off a debt or do penance'. Over time, the meaning softened from 'making amends' to 'meeting expectations' and finally to the modern sense of 'feeling content because a need or desire has been met'. The adjective form satisfied appeared in the 1600s, and the 'convinced' sense (satisfied that something is true) developed in the 1700s, shifting from emotional contentment to intellectual certainty.