satisfy - Master This Word
Master this word with our 5-step learning method – Learn English in English
satisfy Word Meanings
- to feel pleased or content
- to meet the needs or desires of someone
- to fulfill a requirement
satisfy Example Sentences
Example sentences are the start of understanding. Don't rush to memorize. First feel how the word works in a sentence.
satisfy Phonetic & Pronunciation
UK
/ˈsætɪsfaɪ/
US
/ˈsætɪsfaɪ/
satisfy Word Etymology
satisfy = satis- (sufficient) + fy (to make). Historical origin: Latin → Old French → English. Memory image: Imagine a chef who places just enough food on a plate to keep someone content.
Note 1: These definitions and etymologies are not standard dictionary definitions, but extended explanations provided to help with memorization and understanding of the actual application of words. Through this background information, we strive to make words more vivid and easier to understand, and help you remember their meanings in real life.
Note 2: LexiTalk designs the learning flow around the linguistics principle of “Comprehensible Input.” When learners encounter material that is slightly above their level but still understandable from context, the brain naturally absorbs the language. That’s why we keep every word inside authentic contexts, using examples and associations to help you understand it and use it flexibly.
Read the FAQ explanation of Comprehensible InputEnglish Brain Route
I plant my feet, take a breath, and push through a small chore. A click moves the mechanism, my eyes shift, my hand adjusts. I keep the rhythm, hold the line, and watch the space settle into order. That small result can satisfy me.
Real Context
Satisfy means to make someone feel pleased or content; to meet the needs or desires of someone; or to fulfill a requirement or condition. In everyday use, you might say a meal satisfies you after a long day, a service satisfies a customer, or a rule is satisfied when its conditions are met. The nuance is achieving a state of contentment or compliance rather than simply provoking happiness. It often collocates with hunger, expectations, or deadlines. In formal settings, a party must satisfy the criteria of a contract or grant. The word emphasizes adequacy and sufficiency rather than excess.
Usage Reminders
- Use satisfy for needs, desires, or requirements.
- Not the same as please, which is about making someone happy.
- Commonly followed by hunger, expectations, or conditions.
- You can satisfy a contract by meeting its criteria.
- Forms: satisfy, satisfied, satisfying, satisfaction.
Common Misconceptions
- Satisfy always means to make someone happy; it can also mean meeting a standard or requirement.
- Satisfy is not the same as please; you can satisfy a condition without pleasing someone.
- You say 'satisfy hunger' not 'satisfy a person’s hunger' - you can both.
- Satisfaction is about adequacy, not exuberant delight.
- Satisfy is followed by needs, desires, or conditions, not by people in all contexts.
Thinking Differences
Explain to an English speaker (meta, keep short)
Learning Tips
- Memorize the three core senses (feel content, meet needs, fulfill a requirement).
- Pair with common collocations: hunger, expectations, deadlines.
- Distinguish from please and fulfill; note different objects.
- Practice forms: satisfy, satisfied, satisfying, satisfaction.
- Use in both casual and formal contexts to build versatility.
- Create quick flashcards for 5-6 common phrases per week.
5-Step Learning Method - Learn English in English
Step 1: Meaning
What does the word 'satisfy' mean?
A.To please
B.To cook
C.To sing
D.To jump
Step 2: Usage
Which sentence uses the word 'satisfy' correctly?
A.The loud music did not satisfy her hunger.
B.She danced to satisfy the weather.
C.He satisfied his homework on time.
D.I need to satisfy my bed
Step 3: Similar Words
Which word is most similar to 'satisfy'?
A.Angry
B.Sad
C.Delight
D.Laugh
Step 4: Opposite Words
What is the opposite of 'satisfy'?
A.Empty
B.Tiring
C.Beautiful
D.Fast
Step 5: Mastery
Can you think of a real-life context to use the word 'satisfy'?
A.The student finished the exam with relief.
B.He read a book and felt happy about it.
C.She ate a delicious meal to feel content.
D.They successfully solved the puzzle.
Related Listening
🔥 Advanced
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