Synonyms

enjoy

American

[en-joi] / ɛnˈdʒɔɪ /

verb (used with object)

to experience with joy; take pleasure in.

He enjoys Chinese food.

Synonyms:

savor, relish, fancy, appreciate
to have and use with satisfaction; have the benefit of.

He enjoys an excellent income from his trust funds.

Synonyms:

own, possess
to find or experience pleasure for (oneself ).

She seems to enjoy herself at everything she does.
to undergo (an improvement).

Automobile manufacturers have enjoyed a six-percent rise in sales over the past month.
to have intercourse with.

enjoy British

/ ɪnˈdʒɔɪ /

verb

to receive pleasure from; take joy in
to have the benefit of; use with satisfaction
to have as a condition; experience

the land enjoyed a summer of rain
archaic to have sexual intercourse with
to have a good time

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

Conjugated Forms

Present

Past

Future

Etymology

Origin of enjoy

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English enjoyen “to make joyful,” from Old French enjoier “to give joy to”; see en- ¹ ( def. ), joy ( def. )

Explanation

To enjoy something is to take delight or pleasure in something: to have fun doing it. Whatever you like or love, you enjoy. Saying you enjoy something is a major compliment: it means you like it, and it makes you happy. Some people enjoy sports; others enjoy music. TV, movies, books, video games, sunny days, pets, and exercise are enjoyed by many people. Different people enjoy different things. We can also talk about enjoying as a type of advantage. A tall boxer enjoys an advantage because he has a longer reach than a short boxer.

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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.

While all other followers of Jesus, from Quakers to Catholics, were officially designated as variations of “Christian,” Mormons did not enjoy the Christian label.

From Salon • Jun. 10, 2026

"The kind of film that works... is a good film, a popular film, a film that people enjoy," he said.

From Barron's • Jun. 10, 2026

I don’t enjoy waiting for important information, but I like that California wants people to vote.

From Slate • Jun. 9, 2026

There is no doubt that only children enjoy some advantages, but as standalones we are denied one of the most powerful lifelong connections that any human being can have.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 9, 2026

Unfortunately, Torak didn’t get long to enjoy it.

From "Wolf Brother" by Michelle Paver

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023