Definition

1. Verb:
   • To express pleasure or praise to someone for their achievement or good fortune: The primary meaning is to tell someone you are happy about their success or happy event.
   • To feel pride or satisfaction in one's own achievement: To take personal pleasure in something one has accomplished.

Usage

• The verb congratulate is a transitive verb, meaning it requires a direct object (the person being addressed).
• The standard structure is: congratulate + someone + on + something.
• It is used in both formal and informal contexts to acknowledge success, promotions, weddings, births, or other positive milestones.

Examples

• Basic Usage:

  • I called to congratulate you on your promotion.
  • We congratulated the team on their victory.
  • She congratulated him on passing his driving test.

• Reflexive Usage (congratulate oneself):

  • You can congratulate yourself on a job well done.
  • He congratulated himself for finishing the project ahead of schedule.

Advanced Usage

• "To be to be congratulated": A formal, passive construction used to state that someone deserves praise.
  • The director is to be congratulated for her visionary leadership.

Variants and Related Words

• Congratulation (noun): The act of congratulating or the words used to congratulate.
  • Please accept my sincere congratulations.
• Congratulatory (adjective): Expressing congratulations.
  • She received a congratulatory letter from the president.

Synonyms

• Compliment: To express praise or admiration.
• Praise: To express warm approval or admiration.
• Felicitate (formal): To congratulate.

Related Phrases

• Offer one's congratulations: A formal way to say you are congratulating someone.
  • I would like to offer my congratulations on your marriage.
• Congratulations on...: The standard phrase used to directly express congratulations.
  • Congratulations on your new baby!

Verb

1. pride or congratulate (oneself) for an achievement
2. be proud of
   • He prides himself on making it into law school
3. express congratulations
4. say something to someone that expresses praise
   • He complimented her on her last physics paper