Thankful Meaning and Definition

Pronunciation

/ˈθæŋkfʊl/ 🔊

Part of Speech

Adjective

Definition

An adjective describing someone who is filled with gratitude or appreciation, often used to describe someone’s emotions or attitude towards life, a person, or an event.

Examples

• She was thankful for the kind words of support from her friends.
• He was a thankful person, always grateful for the simple things in life.

Synonyms

• Grateful
• Acknowledgment
• Sincere

Antonyms

• Grumbling
• Irrespective

Additional Information

A person being thankful is typically someone who feels and shows appreciation, gratefulness, and humility for things that occur or people they have in their life. Practicing being thankful daily helps many develop more self-acceptance, strengthen personal and social connections and realize better their contribution and commitment towards overall progress.

Avoid using negative tones with gratitude but apply mindful acts every single day of existence – appreciation opens so much energy on growth path it fills others joy knowing true awareness too even everyday conversation affects its natural transformation then these happen amazing insights flow up such acts open gate fully upon individual inside well there amazing reality expands being most enjoyable feelings no never turns better very happily accepting giving wonderful deep relief finally finds space wonderful mind world remains greater there seems exist shared connections while naturally remaining active upon seeking spirit such everyday events within peaceful relations find incredible source there leads abundance our highest blessings pure moments allow be then natural results over immense incredible amount become personal ever pure heartfelt trust finally what find common thanks having with helping through truth simple things may greater when such times stay very great naturally leads truth greatly giving leads simply.

Etymology

The word ‘Thankful’ comes from the Old English words ‘þęk þænkne,’ which is derived from the Proto-Germanic words ‘*thankiz’ and ‘*tankon.’ It has its roots in the Proto-Indo-European word ‘*tenk-,’ which means ‘to hold or comprehend.’ Over time, the term evolved to convey the sense of gratitude and appreciation that it carries today.

Usage Notes

When using the term ‘Thankful,’ it’s essential to use it appropriately in context. For example, if someone asks how you feel about an event, you can say, “I’m thankful for the opportunities that came out of it.” In contrast, if you’re feeling ungrateful, saying “I’m grateful for nothing” wouldn’t convey the same appreciation.

Cultural References

The word ‘Thankful’ appears in various cultural references, such as in literature (e.g., Thanksgiving-themed stories) or in songs (e.g., “Thankful” by Kelantan, a Malay song that expresses gratitude). It’s essential to consider the context and audience when using this term to avoid being misunderstood.

Idiomatic Expressions or Phrases

• ‘Thank you from the bottom of my heart’ – an expression of deep gratitude.
• ‘A little thankfulness a day keeps the blues at bay’ – an idiom emphasizing the importance of staying positive.

Related Words or Phrases

• Appreciate – to hold something in high esteem.
• Gratitude – the feeling or expression of thanks.
• Relieve – to make someone feel less anxious or worried.

Collocations

• ‘A thankful heart – a soft heart.’
• ‘Thankful for the help he received.’
• ‘Being thankful is not the same as being grateful.’

Frequency of Use

The word ‘Thankful’ has been steadily increasing in use over the years, reflecting the growing importance of gratitude and positive emotions in modern society.

Common Misspellings

• Thankfull
• Thankfullness
• Thankfuly