TOP

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

satisfy

verb
 
/ˈsætɪsfaɪ/
 
/ˈsætɪsfaɪ/
Word Family
  • satisfaction noun (≠ dissatisfaction)
  • satisfactory adjective (≠ unsatisfactory)
  • satisfactorily adverb (≠ unsatisfactorily)
  • satisfy verb
  • satisfying adjective (≠ unsatisfying)
  • satisfied adjective (≠ dissatisfied) (≠ unsatisfied)
Verb Forms
present simple I / you / we / they satisfy
 
/ˈsætɪsfaɪ/
 
/ˈsætɪsfaɪ/
he / she / it satisfies
 
/ˈsætɪsfaɪz/
 
/ˈsætɪsfaɪz/
past simple satisfied
 
/ˈsætɪsfaɪd/
 
/ˈsætɪsfaɪd/
past participle satisfied
 
/ˈsætɪsfaɪd/
 
/ˈsætɪsfaɪd/
-ing form satisfying
 
/ˈsætɪsfaɪɪŋ/
 
/ˈsætɪsfaɪɪŋ/
jump to other results
  1. satisfy somebody (not used in the progressive tenses) to make somebody pleased by doing or giving them what they want
    • Nothing satisfies him—he's always complaining.
    • The proposed plan will not satisfy everyone.
    Topics Feelingsb2
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverb + satisfy
    • have to
    • must
    • should
    See full entry
  2. satisfy something to provide what is wanted, needed or asked for
    • The food wasn't enough to satisfy his hunger.
    • to satisfy somebody’s curiosity
    • The education system must satisfy the needs of all children.
    • We cannot satisfy demand for the product.
    • to satisfy a requirement/condition/criterion
    • She failed to satisfy all the requirements for entry to the college.
    Extra Examples
    • Nothing could satisfy his desire for power.
    • More and more games are produced to satisfy the public's appetite for online entertainment.
    • It seemed that no amount of information would satisfy their curiosity.
    • The owners were unable to satisfy all the demands of the workers.
    • We could never satisfy all their requests
    • Our hunger satisfied, we continued our journey.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverb + satisfy
    • have to
    • must
    • should
    See full entry
  3. (not used in the progressive tenses) (formal) to make somebody certain something is true or has been done
    • satisfy somebody Her explanation did not satisfy the teacher.
    • satisfy somebody of something People need to be satisfied of the need for a new system.
    • satisfy somebody/yourself (that)… Once I had satisfied myself (that) it was the right decision, we went ahead.
    • All you have to do is satisfy the court he is not at risk.
    Extra Examples
    • She went to satisfy herself that the guests had everything they needed.
    • He nodded, pretending to be satisfied by the answer.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverb + satisfy
    • have to
    • must
    • should
    See full entry
  4. Word Originlate Middle English: from Old French satisfier, formed irregularly from Latin satisfacere ‘to content’, from satis ‘enough’ + facere ‘make’.
See satisfy in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee satisfy in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
dizzy
adjective
 
 
From the Topic
Health problems
C1
Oxford Learner's Dictionaries Word of the Day