pleasant
Americanadjective
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pleasing, agreeable, or enjoyable; giving pleasure.
pleasant news.
- Synonyms:
- gratifying, welcome
-
(of persons, manners, disposition, etc.) socially acceptable or adept; polite; amiable; agreeable.
- Synonyms:
- friendly, congenial, delightful
-
fair, as weather.
a pleasant summer day.
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Archaic. lively, sprightly, or merry.
-
Obsolete. jocular or facetious.
adjective
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giving or affording pleasure; enjoyable
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having pleasing or agreeable manners, appearance, habits, etc
-
obsolete merry and lively
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of pleasant
First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English plesaunt, from Old French plaisant, originally present participle of plaisir “to please”; equivalent to please + -ant
Explanation
Something pleasant is nice or enjoyable. Usually, a picnic in the park is considered a pleasant activity. Pleasant is a word for things that are pleasing: ice cream is considered pleasant by most people. A second meaning refers to a person who is polite or agreeable. People who have good manners, give compliments, smile often are considered more pleasant than someone who screams and curses all the time. This word is often used for weather: clear skies and warm temperatures are signs of pleasant weather. Still, different weather (and other things) will be pleasant to different people.
Vocabulary lists containing pleasant
Be Nice!
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Commonly Misspelled Words, List 1
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Beowulf vocabulary
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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.
"It's never pleasant and sad for him personally, but the most important thing is to do what is best for the country - and this is," they said.
From BBC • Jun. 22, 2026
Alternatively, rent a bike, one of the most pleasant ways to navigate the island, from Young’s Bicycle Shop for around $49 a day.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 20, 2026
Their findings, published in the International Dairy Journal, indicate that adjusting the manufacturing process could make whey protein drinks more pleasant to drink.
From Science Daily • Jun. 15, 2026
"We think it's going to be a rather pleasant experience," she added.
From Barron's • Jun. 14, 2026
Most of the time they were exceptionally well mannered and pleasant, of course.
From "The Interrupted Tale" by Maryrose Wood
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.
