congratulate
congratulate — verb
1. When someone has done something well or achieved something, you congratulate the
When someone has done something well or achieved something, you congratulate them by telling them that you are happy for them and proud of what they have done.
Constanza's parents congratulated her on winning the science competition.
congratulate + on + -ing form
The manager congratulated the whole department for finishing the project under budget.
Saira sent a card to congratulate her cousin on the birth of her baby.
When Joon got the scholarship, his neighbours all went over to congratulate him.
I want to congratulate the volunteers who helped make the festival such a success.
- praise
Broader — can express approval for any quality or action, not just achievements.
- compliment
Focuses on admiring a specific quality, appearance, or skill rather than celebrating a success.
- commend
More formal; often used in official contexts such as work reviews or public statements.
- criticize
To express disapproval rather than pleasure about someone's actions.
文法句型
congratulate + someone + on/for + noun or -ing form
用法筆記
The most common prepositions following this sense are 'on' and 'for'. 'On' is preferred when naming a specific event (winning, graduating, achieving), while 'for' often highlights the effort or quality behind the achievement.
常見錯誤
2. To feel satisfied and proud about something you have done yourself, often by tel
To feel satisfied and proud about something you have done yourself, often by telling yourself that you did well.
After finishing her first marathon, Dahlia congratulated herself on not giving up.
reflexive: congratulate yourself on + noun/-ing
The sales team congratulated themselves on a successful quarter after months of hard work.
Ife congratulated herself for making the right call at exactly the right moment.
After the funding crisis ended, Adina congratulated herself for keeping the small startup alive.
- pat oneself on the back
More informal and figurative; suggests a light, sometimes humorous self-acknowledgement.
- take pride in
Describes the internal feeling of satisfaction without the act of telling oneself; broader in use.
文法句型
congratulate + yourself/herself/himself/themselves + on/for + noun or -ing form
用法筆記
Always requires a reflexive pronoun (yourself, myself, herself, himself, themselves). Without a reflexive object, the sentence instead expresses the first sense — praising someone else. 'The team congratulated the manager' (sense 1) vs. 'The team congratulated themselves' (sense 2).