please
Americanadverb
verb (used with object)
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pleases,
present (3rd person singular)
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pleased,
past participle, past
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pleasing
present participle
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to act to the pleasure or satisfaction of.
to please the public.
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to be the pleasure or will of.
May it please your Majesty.
verb (used without object)
-
pleases,
present (3rd person singular)
-
pleased,
past participle, past
-
pleasing
present participle
idioms
verb
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to give satisfaction, pleasure, or contentment to (a person); make or cause (a person) to be glad
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to be the will of or have the will (to)
if it pleases you
the court pleases
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if you will or wish, sometimes used in ironic exclamation
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happy because of
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to do as one likes
adverb
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(sentence modifier) used in making polite requests and in pleading, asking for a favour, etc
please don't tell the police where I am
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a polite formula for accepting an offer, invitation, etc
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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pleasednessnoun
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pleasernoun
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overpleaseverb
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outpleaseverb (used with object)
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half-pleasedadjective
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pleasableadjective
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pleasedadjective
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self-pleasedadjective
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unpleasableadjective
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unpleasedadjective
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well-pleasedadjective
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pleasedlyadverb
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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pleasesimple
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pleasessimple
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have pleasedperfect
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has pleasedperfect
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am pleasingprogressive
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are pleasingprogressive
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is pleasingprogressive
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have been pleasingperfect progressive
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has been pleasingperfect progressive
Past
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pleasedsimple
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had pleasedperfect
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was pleasingprogressive
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were pleasingprogressive
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had been pleasingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of please
First recorded in 1275–1325; (verb) Middle English plesen, plaisen, from Middle French plaisir, ultimately from Latin placēre “to please, seem good” ( see placid); the use of please with requests, etc., is presumably a reduction of the clause (it) please you “may it please you,” later reinforced by imperative use of intransitive please to be pleased, wish
Explanation
To please someone is to give them pleasure or to make them happy. This is also a word for polite requests like, "Could you please pass the milk?" Have you ever been asked "What's the magic word"? It's please, a small word that makes any request more polite. Saying please is sure to please just about everyone, although different things please different people. Turning in your homework on time will please your teachers, while a good belly rub and some extra treats will please your dog.
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:
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From Slate ● Sep. 19, 2026
If you have a crystal ball that will tell me I will need memory care in old age, please share.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 18, 2026
So please, just fight for the things that crack light into your life, fight for the things that soften you.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 16, 2026
If built, a wire-fenced encampment a 15-minute walk from the village will become home to the asylum seekers, who would be free to come and go as they please.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 16, 2026
“Maybe so,” I said, which seemed to please her.
From "The Seven Wonders of Sassafras Springs" by Betty G. Birney
Some AI initiatives may take longer to manifest in a way that pleases investors.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 13, 2026
This isn’t just teenage dramatics: Elephant seals don’t hunt or eat as they molt, so he’s hungry and tired and will sleep wherever he damn pleases.
From Salon ● Jul. 7, 2026
Beach this week provided the additional detail on those deals, which pleases Macquarie, even though it retains an underperform call on the Australian company’s stock.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 29, 2026
But a little later, Laura asks to stay with this good Samaritan rather than go with the EMTs, an arrangement that clearly pleases Betty.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 19, 2026
"Don't be afraid, he won't hurt you. Sweet brother, please, forgive her, the girl misspoke herself, I told her to ask you to sup with me, if it pleases Your Grace."
From "A Game of Thrones" by George R.R. Martin
Potential, excitement and progress are three words I associate with the club and I'm pleased to commit my future.
From BBC ● Sep. 16, 2026
Forensic accountant and former insurance examiner Tom Gober, who worked for the plaintiffs’ lawyers, said there was a rapid resolution and his clients were pleased.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 14, 2026
Russians told AFP they were pleased with the rollout.
From Barron's ● Sep. 11, 2026
"We committed to a life together and if I could help out I would and I was pleased that I did," he says.
From BBC ● Sep. 10, 2026
That was an exaggeration, but I was pleased by how Anna May presented me.
From "The Red Car to Hollywood" by Jennie Liu
"For us to have come through this series in the manner we have done, the way we've gone about our cricket, and gone about things has been really pleasing."
From BBC ● Sep. 12, 2026
It might also support the whole pleasing vibe producers seem to be going for with this hosting choice.
From Salon ● Sep. 8, 2026
The staggered statements within “Trio Piece” advance with oddly pleasing grace.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 2, 2026
Herbert and the starting offense, though, made sure they left something pleasing on film.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 28, 2026
Depending on your interests, you may also want to spend time creating pleasing chord progressions by choosing chords from the correct key that will complement a melody that you know.
From "Understanding Basic Music Theory" by Catherine Schmidt-Jones and Russel Jones
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.
