satisfy

satisfy — verb

1. to provide whatever a person is looking for, leaving them with a feeling of plea

1.verbtransitiveB1
Definition

to provide whatever a person is looking for, leaving them with a feeling of pleasure or contentment — for instance, handling a customer's request well, or answering a child's questions about how something works.

Example

The hotel's friendly service satisfied every guest at the business conference.

satisfy + noun phrase (person as object)

A short apology from his brother satisfied Darius and ended their argument.

compound verb: satisfied + ended

Common collocations
  • satisfy someone's curiosity
  • satisfy someone's hunger
  • satisfy a customer
  • satisfy a request
  • satisfy a desire
Synonyms
  • please

    more general; can apply to any action that gives pleasure

  • gratify

    stronger and more formal; focuses on satisfying a specific desire or craving

  • content

    suggests meeting basic needs enough that a person stops wanting more, without strong enthusiasm

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

satisfy + noun phrase (person or feeling as object)

Usage Note

The object is usually a person, a desire, or a feeling such as curiosity or hunger. This sense is about creating a positive emotional response, not just meeting a formal requirement.

Common Mistakes

I am satisfactory with the result.
I am satisfied with the result.
'Satisfactory' describes the quality of a thing; 'satisfied' describes how a person feels.

2. to have or supply enough of whatever is required — for example, fulfilling a con

2.verbtransitiveB1
Definition

to have or supply enough of whatever is required — for example, fulfilling a condition for a loan, or matching the demands of a busy job.

Example

The applicant's qualifications satisfied all the requirements for the teaching job.

satisfy + requirements (formal criteria)

The charity's food supply did not satisfy the growing demand for meals.

satisfy + demand (quantity/need)

Common collocations
  • satisfy requirements
  • satisfy conditions
  • satisfy criteria
  • satisfy demand
  • satisfy needs
Synonyms
  • meet

    slightly more general; very common in everyday use for requirements and standards

  • fulfil

    strongly suggests completing or carrying out an expectation or duty

  • comply with

    formal; implies following rules or regulations

Antonyms
  • fail

    not reach the required standard or level

Grammar Patterns

satisfy + noun phrase (requirement/need/condition/demand)

Usage Note

The subject is often a thing (qualifications, supply, score), and the object is a requirement, condition, demand, or need. This sense does not imply any emotional response — it only means the requirement or standard is met.

Common Mistakes

I satisfied the exam.
I passed the exam.' or ✅ 'My score satisfied the exam requirements.
'Satisfy' needs an object like 'requirements' or 'conditions,' not the test or task itself.

3. to show someone strong evidence or good reasons so that they stop doubting somet

3.verbtransitiveB2
Definition

to show someone strong evidence or good reasons so that they stop doubting something — for example, satisfying a committee that a project is safe, or satisfying yourself that the front door is locked.

Example

The engineer satisfied the safety officer that the bridge structure was safe.

satisfy + noun phrase + that-clause (formal verification)

Nala satisfied herself that the door was secure by checking both locks.

reflexive: satisfy + oneself + that-clause

Common collocations
  • satisfy the court
  • satisfy the committee
  • satisfy oneself about
  • satisfy someone of something
Synonyms
  • convince

    more common in everyday English; focuses on changing someone's belief

  • reassure

    more about removing worry than proving a fact

  • persuade

    broader; can mean getting someone to believe or to act

Antonyms
  • doubt

    remain uncertain or unconvinced

Grammar Patterns

satisfy + noun phrase + that-clause

satisfy + oneself + that-clause

satisfy + noun phrase + of + noun phrase

Usage Note

Formal register; common in legal, official, and institutional contexts. The reflexive construction 'satisfy yourself that...' means to personally check and verify something until you have no remaining doubt. In everyday speech, 'convince' or 'make sure' is more natural.

Common Mistakes

He satisfied me that he was right.' (in casual conversation)
He convinced me that he was right.
This sense is formal; in everyday speech, use 'convince' or 'persuade.'

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

'Please' is the most general word of this group — you can please someone in countless small ways, from a compliment to a gift, often implying a feeling of happiness or delight. 'Gratify' is stronger and more formal, focusing on satisfying a specific desire or craving that the person has been consciously aware of. 'Content' suggests meeting basic needs or expectations enough that a person stops wanting more, but without strong enthusiasm or excitement. 'Appease' goes further, implying that someone was upset, worried, or angry, and you calmed them by giving them what they demanded. For example: a compliment pleases a colleague; a promotion gratifies an ambitious worker; a simple bowl of soup contents a hungry child; a refund appeases an angry customer. 'Satisfy' is the most neutral and covers all these situations — it simply means giving someone what they want or need until they feel good about it.

please ↗gratifycontent ↗appease

Common collocations

Adverbs

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchEnglish

The word 'satisfy' traces back to Latin 'satisfacere,' a combination of 'satis' (enough) and 'facere' (to do or to make). In Latin it meant 'to do enough, to make amends.' It passed into Old French as 'satisfier' and then entered Middle English around the 1400s. The core idea of 'doing enough' runs through all three modern senses: giving someone enough to please them, providing enough to meet a requirement, or showing enough evidence to remove doubt.