Gratitude

Podcast 1 · Introduction

Gratitude

A documentary-style narration: origin, meaning, and feel.

Part of speech

noun

Pronunciation

GRAT-ih-tyood  /ˈɡrætɪtjuːd/

Definition

The quality of being thankful; a readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness; the feeling of thankfulness for benefits received.

Plain meaning

Gratitude is the genuine feeling of thankfulness — recognising that you have received something valuable from another person and feeling appreciation for it.

Register

Warm and elevated. Gratitude is a more formal and emotionally substantial word than thanks — expressing gratitude implies a deeper recognition than simply saying thank you. In positive psychology, gratitude has become an important technical term for the specifically healthy emotional response to perceived benefit.