enjoy
Americanverb (used with object)
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to experience with joy; take pleasure in.
He enjoys Chinese food.
- Synonyms:
- savor, relish, fancy, appreciate
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to have and use with satisfaction; have the benefit of.
He enjoys an excellent income from his trust funds.
-
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.
verb
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to receive pleasure from; take joy in
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to have the benefit of; use with satisfaction
-
to have as a condition; experience
the land enjoyed a summer of rain
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archaic to have sexual intercourse with
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to have a good time
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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enjoyablenessnoun
-
enjoyernoun
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preenjoyverb (used with object)
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reenjoyverb (used with object)
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enjoyableadjective
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unenjoyedadjective
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unenjoyingadjective
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enjoyablyadverb
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enjoyinglyadverb
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unenjoyinglyadverb
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
enjoysimple
-
enjoyssimple
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have enjoyedperfect
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has enjoyedperfect
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am enjoyingprogressive
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are enjoyingprogressive
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is enjoyingprogressive
-
have been enjoyingperfect progressive
-
has been enjoyingperfect progressive
Past
-
enjoyedsimple
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had enjoyedperfect
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was enjoyingprogressive
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were enjoyingprogressive
-
had been enjoyingperfect progressive
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.
Vocabulary lists containing enjoy
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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.
See Examples For:
Workers there would enjoy employment and site protection until 2035, it said after negotiations with the general works council and trade unions.
From Barron's ● Jul. 27, 2026
This is the time to enjoy the retirement you’ve worked so hard to achieve — travel, pursue hobbies, spend time with family.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 27, 2026
While this season is advertised as “for the fans,” you don’t need to be a “Survivor” expert to enjoy the strategic gameplay, backstabbing and twists in this historic TV competition.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 26, 2026
The experience has left him thinking carefully about his future and the alternative careers he might enjoy.
From BBC ● Jul. 25, 2026
Determined to enjoy the temporary freedom, I hoisted the basket higher and wrapped my arms around its middle as I came out of the alley.
From "The Red Car to Hollywood" by Jennie Liu
And many a Toluca Lake resident enjoys some theme park perks courtesy of Universal, such as free parking, and invites to pre-opening events at the park.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 24, 2026
He enjoys a good reputation within the military, and protesters calling for his predecessor's removal often chanted his name as their preferred replacement.
From Barron's ● Jul. 22, 2026
Gadi Eisenkot, who enjoys more popular support than any other leader of the Israeli opposition, may be the man who can end Benjamin Netanyahu’s iron grip on his country’s politics.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 21, 2026
"Even if you hear it is the end, I doubt it but we'll see. I just see him with the national side, simply because he enjoys it," he said.
From BBC ● Jul. 19, 2026
He was also, it was clear, one of those teachers who genuinely enjoys kids.
From "Geeks: How Two Lost Boys Rode the Internet Out of Idaho" by Jon Katz
“I have enjoyed every moment of its creation and evolution, but now it’s time to pass this magic on to others.”
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 27, 2026
Price also averaged 104.97 in the final and has enjoyed a successful week, climbing to fourth in the order of merit and reclaiming the Welsh number one spot from Jonny Clayton.
From BBC ● Jul. 26, 2026
Hopping aboard the company jet for a personal trip is an enviable and often costly perk, one enjoyed by around 700 executives at about 400 companies, with an average annual cost exceeding $160,000.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 25, 2026
Courtesy of Loves Food Loves to Eat and shared by Food52, this recipe serves two when eaten as a meal and four to six when enjoyed as a side.
From Salon ● Jul. 25, 2026
On the other hand, he enjoyed some security, comfort, and occasional moments of independence—things that most enslaved people never experienced.
From "In the Shadow of Liberty" by Kenneth C. Davis
Today, it appears the singer is enjoying a much smoother ride, financially, with estimates placing her net worth at a staggering $360 million.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 27, 2026
Seoul, which has led the rout in recent weeks, rose one percent with chip giants SK hynix and Samsung enjoying some much-needed buying interest.
From Barron's ● Jul. 27, 2026
It was such a lovely time, just mother and son, enjoying each other's company.
From BBC ● Jul. 26, 2026
A lot of these kids don’t know how to ... act, but I ended up enjoying their rowdiness.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 22, 2026
And we were quiet the rest of the way home, just enjoying the breeze that was blowing through the stars.
From "Ida B" by Katherine Hannigan
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.
