satisfy

/ˈsætɪsfaɪ/
to meet someone's needs or expectations

The new policy aims to satisfy both employees and customers.

The policy is designed to meet the needs of both groups.


general

to meet the needs, desires, or expectations of someone or something

The restaurant's menu satisfies all dietary preferences.

The menu meets the needs of people with different dietary requirements.

She tried to satisfy her curiosity by reading more books.

She wanted to meet her desire to learn more, so she read more books.

Often used with prepositions like 'with', 'by', or 'through'.

Law
formal

to fulfill a requirement or condition

The contract must satisfy all legal requirements.

The contract must meet all the necessary legal conditions.

In legal contexts, it often refers to meeting formal or contractual obligations.

Collocations

satisfy a needto meet a requirement or desiresatisfy a conditionto meet a requirement or standardsatisfy a demandto meet a request or requirement

Related Phrases

satisfy oneselfphrase
to convince oneself
satisfy the criteriaphrase
to meet the necessary standards

Pro Tip

Common Prepositions

'Satisfy' is often followed by 'with', 'by', or 'through' depending on the context.

Gold Rule

Formal vs. Informal Use

In formal contexts, 'satisfy' is often used in legal or professional settings, while in informal contexts, it can be used to describe meeting personal needs or desires.

Word Origin

From Middle English 'satisfien', from Old French 'satisfier', from Latin 'satisfacere' ('to do enough for'), from 'satis' ('enough') + 'facere' ('to do').

Usage Notes

Can be used in both literal and figurative contexts. Often followed by prepositions like 'with', 'by', or 'through'.

Word Breakdown

satis
enough
prefix
+
fy
to make or do
suffix
English Dictionary