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Definition of congratulate verb from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

congratulate

verb
 
/kənˈɡrætʃəleɪt/
 
/kənˈɡrætʃəleɪt/
Verb Forms
present simple I / you / we / they congratulate
 
/kənˈɡrætʃəleɪt/
 
/kənˈɡrætʃəleɪt/
he / she / it congratulates
 
/kənˈɡrætʃəleɪts/
 
/kənˈɡrætʃəleɪts/
past simple congratulated
 
/kənˈɡrætʃəleɪtɪd/
 
/kənˈɡrætʃəleɪtɪd/
past participle congratulated
 
/kənˈɡrætʃəleɪtɪd/
 
/kənˈɡrætʃəleɪtɪd/
-ing form congratulating
 
/kənˈɡrætʃəleɪtɪŋ/
 
/kənˈɡrætʃəleɪtɪŋ/
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  1. congratulate somebody (on something) to tell somebody that you are pleased about their success or achievements
    • I congratulated them all on their results.
    • The authors are to be congratulated on producing such a clear and authoritative work.
    Express Yourself Congratulating somebody on an achievement or a family eventCongratulating somebody on an achievement or a family eventWhen somebody tells you some good news about their family, or what they have done, you can congratulate them:
      • Congratulations on your engagement! I hope you'll be very happy.
      • Well done for passing your driving test.
      (British English)
      • Good job on passing your exams.
      (North American English)
      • I hear you've got a new job—congratulations!
      • Jo tells me you're getting married—congratulations!
    Responses:
      • Thank you very much.
      • Oh, thanks!
    Extra Examples
    • I must congratulate you on your excellent exam results.
    • Please join me in congratulating Luke on an outstanding season.
    • She congratulated me warmly on my performance.
    • The President himself is here to personally congratulate the winner.
    • The company is to be congratulated on its success.
    • The employees should be congratulated for the part they have played in the success.
    Topics Successc1
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb
    • heartily
    • warmly
    • personally
    verb + congratulate
    • have to
    • must
    • want to
    preposition
    • for
    • on
    phrases
    • somebody is to be congratulated
    • to join somebody in congratulating somebody
    See full entry
  2. congratulate yourself (on something) to feel pleased and proud because you have achieved something or been successful at something
    • You can congratulate yourself on having done an excellent job.
    • The organizers are congratulating themselves on attracting record numbers to the event.
    Topics Successc1
  3. Word Originmid 16th cent.: from Latin congratulat- ‘congratulated’, from the verb congratulari, from con- ‘with’ + gratulari ‘show joy’ (from gratus ‘pleasing’).
See congratulate in the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary
perspective
noun
 
 
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