please
Americanadverb
verb (used with object)
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to act to the pleasure or satisfaction of.
to please the public.
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to be the pleasure or will of.
May it please your Majesty.
verb (used without object)
idioms
verb
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to give satisfaction, pleasure, or contentment to (a person); make or cause (a person) to be glad
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to be the will of or have the will (to)
if it pleases you
the court pleases
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if you will or wish, sometimes used in ironic exclamation
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happy because of
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to do as one likes
adverb
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(sentence modifier) used in making polite requests and in pleading, asking for a favour, etc
please don't tell the police where I am
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a polite formula for accepting an offer, invitation, etc
Other Word Forms
- half-pleased adjective
- outplease verb (used with object)
- overplease verb
- pleasable adjective
- pleased adjective
- pleasedly adverb
- pleasedness noun
- pleaser noun
- self-pleased adjective
- unpleasable adjective
- unpleased adjective
- well-pleased adjective
Etymology
Origin of please
First recorded in 1275–1325; (verb) Middle English plesen, plaisen, from Middle French plaisir, ultimately from Latin placēre “to please, seem good” ( placid ); the use of please with requests, etc., is presumably a reduction of the clause (it) please you “may it please you,” later reinforced by imperative use of intransitive please to be pleased, wish
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"In any situation where someone is in difficulty in the water, please call 999 immediately and ask for the fire and rescue service," it added.
From BBC
"I'm over the moon, I'm pleased with that. He threw everything at me at the end there," Hawkins told BBC Sport.
From BBC
"It's very pleasing because firstly that is the reason we have won," said Slot.
From BBC
Tradwife influencers advise young women to speak in pleasing tones and warn against intimidating the men in their lives.
From Salon
His wife of 42 years Pauline will be pleased too.
From BBC
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
