thankful
gb/θˈæŋkfəl/ us/θˈæŋkfəl/
A2
English
~ 5100
Senses
0 senses
adjective
A2
state
1
feeling grateful for something
Feeling grateful and pleased because someone helped you or something good happened.
Usage pattern:
be thankful for [something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say 'thankful with' or 'thankful of'. Use 'thankful for [something]' and 'thankful to [someone]'. Also avoid 'thanksful' (incorrect).
Synonyms
grateful (Closest in meaning; the most common direct equivalent.)
|
appreciative (Slightly more formal; focuses on recognizing value rather than the feeling itself.)
Antonyms
ungrateful (Direct opposite describing someone who does not feel or show thanks.)
|
thankless (Describes an attitude lacking gratitude; less common for people in modern use.)
Collocations
be thankful for
|thankful to [someone]
|deeply thankful
|truly thankful
|eternally thankful
Themes
emotions
|daily life
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- I’m thankful for your advice and support.
- We’re thankful to our neighbors for the extra chairs.
- She felt genuinely thankful after the fundraiser succeeded.
- The community is thankful for the volunteers’ time.
Learner examples
- I am thankful for your help.
- We are thankful to our teacher.
- He is very thankful for the meal.
- They are thankful for the warm welcome.
adjective
B1
state
2
relieved that bad was avoided
Feeling glad and grateful because a bad thing did not happen.
Usage pattern:
be thankful that [clause]
Common mistake:
Do not say 'thankful for no one was hurt.' Use 'thankful that no one was hurt' with a clause after 'that'.
Synonyms
relieved (Focuses on the end of worry; may lack the gratitude nuance of 'thankful'.)
|
glad (General positive feeling; less explicit about gratitude.)
Antonyms
dismayed (Expresses distress or disappointment when a situation goes badly.)
|
upset (General negative emotion, contrasted with relief and gratitude.)
Collocations
thankful that
|thankful no one [was hurt]
|thankful to be alive
|thankful it wasn’t worse
Themes
emotions
|safety
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- I’m thankful that no one was hurt in the crash.
- We were thankful it stopped raining before the ceremony.
- She’s thankful to be alive after the surgery.
- He felt thankful that the deadline was extended.
Learner examples
- I am thankful that you are safe.
- We were thankful it was not so bad.
- She is thankful to be alive.
- They are thankful that the storm passed quickly.
Grammar
Dictionary form
thankful
IPA
GB/θˈæŋkfəl/
US/θˈæŋkfəl/
Syllables & stress
thank - ful (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (thank)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: thankful
Word family
Core family
thank
verb A1
thankfully
adverb B1
Related words
thankfulness
noun
Negative and opposite forms
ungrateful
adjective B1
thankless
adjective
Expressions
be thankful for
1/bˈi θˈæŋkfəl fɚ/
fixed phrase
express gratitude for something
To feel and often say you are grateful for something.
Examples
- Be thankful for the time you have with your family.
- I’m truly thankful for your patience.
be thankful for small mercies
1/bˈi θˈæŋkfəl fɚ smˈɔl mˈɚsiz/
idiom
appreciate small good things
To be glad about small good things, even if the situation is not perfect.
Examples
- The train was late, but at least it arrived—be thankful for small mercies.
- The meeting ran long, but we finished today; I’m thankful for small mercies.
be thankful to [someone]
1/bˈi θˈæŋkfəl tə sˈʌmwˌʌn/
fixed phrase
show gratitude to someone
To feel grateful to a person who helped you.
Examples
- We’re thankful to our coach for the extra practice.
- I’m thankful to everyone who donated.
eternally thankful
1/ɪtˈɚnəli θˈæŋkfəl/
fixed phrase
very strong gratitude
Extremely grateful and for a very long time.
Examples
- We’re eternally thankful for everything you did.
- She said she would be eternally thankful to her mentors.
forever thankful
1/fɚˈɛvɚ θˈæŋkfəl/
fixed phrase
strong, lasting gratitude
Very grateful in a way that will not change.
Examples
- I’ll be forever thankful for your support.
- We are forever thankful to the medical team.
thankful that
1/θˈæŋkfəl ðˈæt/
fixed phrase
express relief with a clause
Used before a clause to say you feel relief and gratitude about what happened.
Examples
- I’m thankful that the kids got home safely.
- We’re thankful that the power came back on quickly.
thankful to be alive
1/θˈæŋkfəl tə bˈi əlˈaɪv/
fixed phrase
relieved after surviving
Feeling very grateful after a dangerous event because you survived.
Examples
- After the crash, she was thankful to be alive.
- He said he was thankful to be alive after the storm.