complimentary

Everyday

1. Free, given without charge: «complimentary drinks». tree →
2. Saying nice things, praising: «She was very complimentary about my drawing». tree →

In the lessons

In everyday life hotels give complimentary breakfasts, toiletries and Wi-Fi, which means free. In school, a complimentary comment praises your work. In maths problems complimentary items cost nothing (price zero).

Examples

• Breakfast is complimentary at this hotel. tree →
• The teacher was very complimentary about my story. tree →
• We got complimentary tickets to the show. tree →
• The restaurant gave us a complimentary dessert. tree →
• Her comments were complimentary. tree →
• Complimentary water is on the table. tree →
• So the tortoise climbed into the boat, the fisherman helping him, and after an exchange of complimentary speeches the tortoise said: tree →

Note

Do not confuse with «complementary» (with an «e»), which means going well together or completing something; in maths «complementary angles» add up to 90 degrees. «Complimentary» = praise or free.