displease
Americanverb (used with object)
verb (used without object)
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
have displeasedperfect
-
has displeasedperfect 3rd person singular
-
has been displeasingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
-
have been displeasingperfect progressive
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are displeasingprogressive
-
am displeasingprogressive 1st person singular
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is displeasingprogressive 3rd person singular
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displeasessingular 3rd person
-
displeasingparticiple
Past
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had displeasedperfect
-
was displeasingprogressive singular
-
were displeasingprogressive plural
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displeasedparticiple
-
had been displeasingperfect progressive
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displeasedsimple
Future
Etymology
Origin of displease
1300–50; Middle English desplesen < Anglo-French, Middle French desplaisir. See dis- 1, please
Explanation
When you displease someone, you disappoint them or make them unhappy. Your dog's loud barking at 5 AM is sure to displease your neighbors. The prefix dis- is often used to signify the opposite of something, and displease is no exception: it means to do the opposite of pleasing someone. Your terrible grades will displease your parents and your teachers, not to mention you, and being served your least favorite foods at your birthday dinner will also displease you. Please has a Latin root, placere, "be acceptable, be liked, or be approved."
Vocabulary lists containing displease
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.
The capacity of policymakers to make decisions that might displease the government is under increasing threat, the head of the European Central Bank said.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 1, 2026
They do not want to be overly dependent on Chinese supplies, but they cannot afford to displease the Chinese government.
From New York Times • May 31, 2023
“I had the honor of knowing a hierarch who did not hesitate to directly express his opinion, regardless of whether this would displease his interlocutor or even a section of society,” Anastasiades said.
From Seattle Times • Nov. 12, 2022
Mr Mitsotakis said the decision had "tortured" him but he felt a "heavy responsibility in standing next to those most vulnerable, even if it might fleetingly displease them".
From BBC • Nov. 30, 2021
“Yes; to the last. But if I go on, I shall displease you by saying what I think of persons you esteem. Stop me whilst you can.”
From "Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen
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.
