pleasant
Americanadjective
-
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.
-
Archaic. lively, sprightly, or merry.
-
Obsolete. jocular or facetious.
adjective
-
giving or affording pleasure; enjoyable
-
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!
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Commonly Misspelled Words, List 1
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Beowulf vocabulary
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
And frankly, a film as pleasant but ephemeral as this isn’t going to push democracy any further into the dark.
From Salon ● Aug. 15, 2026
It is still a pleasant surprise when I open the door to my shop or office or closet to find a tidy workbench or desk—or to see the actual closet floor.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 8, 2026
Seehorn is the ultimate professional: pleasant, quick to credit her colleagues, a team player.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 6, 2026
For many in Scotland and Northern Ireland, it may actually feel like a more pleasant summer day, with few showers and more sunshine than in recent days.
From BBC ● Aug. 4, 2026
The rusalka holding Anya stroked Anya’s hair; Anya was torn between trying to be pleasant so she didn’t offend the spirits and screaming until she lost her voice.
From Anya and the Dragon by Sofiya Pasternack
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.
