1 please | Definition of please
Logo
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

please

verb
\ ˈplēz How to pronounce please (audio) \
pleased; pleasing

Definition of please

 (Entry 1 of 2)

intransitive verb

1 : to afford or give pleasure or satisfaction
2 : like, wish do as you please
3 archaic : to have the kindness will you please to enter the carriage— Charles Dickens

transitive verb

1 : to give pleasure to : gratify
2 : to be the will or pleasure of may it please Your Majesty

please

adverb

Definition of please (Entry 2 of 2)

1 —used as a function word to express politeness or emphasis in a request please come in
2 —used as a function word to express polite affirmation like some tea? Please
3 —used as a function word to express scornful disagreement, disapproval, or disbelief you believe that? Oh, please
Other Words from please Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about please

Keep scrolling for more

Other Words from please

Verb

pleaser \ ˈplÄ“-​zÉ™r How to pronounce pleaser (audio) \ noun

Synonyms & Antonyms for please

Synonyms: Verb

agree (with), content, delight, feast, gas [slang], glad [archaic], gladden, gratify, pleasure, rejoice, satisfy, suit, warm

Antonyms: Verb

displease

Visit the Thesaurus for More 

Examples of please in a Sentence

Verb

 He joined the football team to please his father. Her parents were pleased by her decision. It pleases me to know that you liked the gift. They're very hard to please.
See More

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

 Madewell: Save 20% on jeans and 50% off final sale There's nothing that pleases me more than when Madewell offers a discount on their usually expensive retail. — Courtney Campbell, USA TODAY, "23 fashion and beauty retailers having amazing pre-Labor Day sales this weekend," 23 Aug. 2019 Choose to take a direction that pleases you instead of doing what others want. — Eugenia Last, The Mercury News, "Horoscopes: Aug. 23, 2019," 23 Aug. 2019 Engelbrecht was pleased by the observation, but not every viewer felt similarly engaged; reviews of Bandersnatch were as varied as the pathways through it. — Wired, "Netflix's Carla Engelbrecht Chooses Her Own Adventures," 19 Aug. 2019 His players wanted nothing more than to please him and that's what made his teams so successful. — SI.com, "Sir Matt Busby: The Man Who Built the Modern Manchester United," 1 Aug. 2019 On another day, in another mood, being called a boy would please her, or at least a young man, which is what the owner of the car actually says. — Barry Pearce, chicagotribune.com, "2019 Algren Awards: Grand Prize Winner: Chez Whatever," 20 July 2019 So far in 2019, New Hampshire voters have been pleased with Sununu’s job performance pushing back against the Democratic legislature. — John Mccormack, National Review, "New Hampshire Governor Vetoes Three Gun-Control Bills," 9 Aug. 2019 The window has now closed, and the outcome hasn't pleased the Ivorian. — SI.com, "Premier League Opening Weekend: 8 Things to Look Out For as 2019/20 Season Kicks Off," 9 Aug. 2019 Some companies are using their new superpowers not to please customers, but to manipulate them. — Alan Murray, Fortune, "The Dark Side of Customer Service: CEO Daily," 5 Aug. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'please.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

See More

First Known Use of please

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Adverb

1771, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for please

Verb

Middle English plesen, from Anglo-French plaisir, pleisir, pleire, from Latin placēre; akin to Latin placare to placate and perhaps to Greek plak-, plax flat surface — more at fluke

Keep scrolling for more

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for please

please

verb
How to pronounce please (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of please

 (Entry 1 of 2)

: to make (someone) happy or satisfied
: to make a choice about what to do, have, etc.

please

adverb

English Language Learners Definition of please (Entry 2 of 2)

—used to ask for something in a polite way
—used to show that a request is serious or important
—used as a polite way of saying yes

See the full definition for please in the English Language Learners Dictionary

please

verb
\ ˈplēz How to pronounce please (audio) \
pleased; pleasing

Kids Definition of please

 (Entry 1 of 2)

1 : to make happy or satisfied The gift pleased him.
2 : to be willing : like, choose You can come and go as you please.

WORD OF THE DAY

See Definitions and Examples

Get Word of the Day daily email!