enjoy

[en-joi]

verb (used with object)

1. to experience with joy; take pleasure in.

   He enjoys Chinese food.

   Synonyms: savor, relish, fancy, appreciate

2. to have and use with satisfaction; have the benefit of.

   He enjoys an excellent income from his trust funds.

   Synonyms: own, possess

3. to find or experience pleasure for (oneself ).

   She seems to enjoy herself at everything she does.

4. to undergo (an improvement).

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

5. to have intercourse with.

enjoy

/ ɪnˈdʒɔɪ /

verb

1. to receive pleasure from; take joy in

2. to have the benefit of; use with satisfaction

3. to have as a condition; experience

   the land enjoyed a summer of rain

4. archaic,  to have sexual intercourse with

5. to have a good time

Other Word Forms

• enjoyer noun
• enjoyingly adverb
• preenjoy verb (used with object)
• reenjoy verb (used with object)
• unenjoyed adjective
• unenjoying adjective
• unenjoyingly adverb
• enjoyably adverb
• enjoyable adjective
• enjoyableness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of enjoy¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of enjoy¹

C14: from Old French enjoir, from _en- ¹ + joir to find pleasure in, from Latin gaudēre to rejoice

Related Words

• boast 
• experience 
• have 
• hold 
• maintain 
• own 
• retain 
• use