verb · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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/ɪnˈɡɹeɪ.ʃi.eɪt/
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
Australia:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
rhymes with -eɪʃieɪt
CMU ARPABET:IH2 NG G R EY1 SH IY0 EY2 T
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
verb
Meaning 1
To bring oneself into favour with someone by flattering or trying to please them; to insinuate oneself; to worm one's way in.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: reflexive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
verb
Meaning 2
To recommend; to render easy or agreeable.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: with-to
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
verb
Meaning 3
gain favor with somebody by deliberate efforts
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: manipulate, keep in line, control
Narrower terms: cozy up, cotton up, shine up, play up, sidle up, suck up
History
Etymology
First attested in 1622. From Italian ingraziare or Medieval Latin *ingratiatus, from Latin in grātiam (“for the favor of”).
Across languages
Translations
27 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Arabic:
تَمَلَّقَ
(tamallaqa)
— get someone's favor, especially through flattery
Bulgarian:
подмазвам се
(podmazvam se)
— get someone's favor, especially through flattery
Bulgarian:
подмилквам се
(podmilkvam se)
— get someone's favor, especially through flattery
Chinese Mandarin:
討好 /讨好
(tǎohǎo)
— get someone's favor, especially through flattery
Chinese Mandarin:
奉承
(fèngchéng)
— get someone's favor, especially through flattery
Czech:
vlichotit se
— get someone's favor, especially through flattery
Czech:
získat si přízeň
— get someone's favor, especially through flattery
Czech:
vetřít se do přízně
— get someone's favor, especially through flattery
Dutch:
bemind maken
— get someone's favor, especially through flattery
Dutch:
in het gevlij komen
— get someone's favor, especially through flattery
Finnish:
mielistellä
— get someone's favor, especially through flattery
French:
se faire aimer
— get someone's favor, especially through flattery
German:
einschmeicheln
— get someone's favor, especially through flattery
German:
sich beliebt machen
— get someone's favor, especially through flattery
German:
beliebt machen
— get someone's favor, especially through flattery
German:
schleimen
— get someone's favor, especially through flattery
Japanese:
満たす
(mitasu)
— get someone's favor, especially through flattery
Japanese:
機嫌を取る
(kigen wo toru)
— get someone's favor, especially through flattery
Latin:
grātiam inīre ab
— get someone's favor, especially through flattery
Māori:
whakaporepore
— get someone's favor, especially through flattery
Norwegian:
innynde seg
— get someone's favor, especially through flattery
Norwegian:
smiske
— get someone's favor, especially through flattery
Russian:
сниска́ть расположе́ние
(sniskátʹ raspoložénije)
— get someone's favor, especially through flattery
Russian:
втираться в дове́рие
(vtiratʹsja v dovérije)
— get someone's favor, especially through flattery
Russian:
заискивать
(zaiskivatʹ)
— get someone's favor, especially through flattery
Spanish:
congraciarse
— get someone's favor, especially through flattery
Swedish:
ställa sig in
— get someone's favor, especially through flattery
