please

American  

[pleez] / pliz /

adverb

1. (used as a polite addition to requests, commands, etc.) if you would be so obliging; kindly.

   Please come here.

   Will you please turn the radio off?

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verb (used with object)

pleased, pleasing

1. to act to the pleasure or satisfaction of.

   to please the public.

2. to be the pleasure or will of.

   May it please your Majesty.

verb (used without object)

pleased, pleasing

1. to like, wish, or feel inclined.

   Go where you please.

   Synonyms:

   wish, want, like, choose

2. to give pleasure or satisfaction; be agreeable.

   manners that please.

idioms

1. if you please,

   1. if it be your pleasure; if you like or prefer.

   2. (used as an exclamation expressing astonishment, indignation, etc.).

      The missing letter was in his pocket, if you please!

please British  

/ ˈpliːzɪdlɪ, pliːz /

verb

1. to give satisfaction, pleasure, or contentment to (a person); make or cause (a person) to be glad

2. to be the will of or have the will (to)

   if it pleases you

   the court pleases

3. if you will or wish, sometimes used in ironic exclamation

4. happy because of

5. to do as one likes

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adverb

1. (sentence modifier) used in making polite requests and in pleading, asking for a favour, etc

   please don't tell the police where I am

2. a polite formula for accepting an offer, invitation, etc

please More Idioms  

1. see as you please.

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Other Word Forms

• half-pleased adjective
• outplease verb (used with object)
• overplease verb
• pleasable adjective
• pleased adjective
• pleasedly adverb
• pleasedness noun
• pleaser noun
• self-pleased adjective
• unpleasable adjective
• unpleased adjective
• well-pleased adjective

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” ( 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

Example Sentences

This is a polite way of saying please don’t play for the Jets.

From The Wall Street Journal

Were he alive today, the father of our country—who was also a forgiving man, cognizant of his own potential errors—might well be pleased with recent activities at his plantation on the Potomac.

From The Wall Street Journal

As they tried to make sense of his fall, some allies wondered whether Karp’s instinct to please friends and clients—typically a virtue for a workaholic corporate lawyer—may have been a vulnerability with Epstein.

From The Wall Street Journal

A little firmer arm under the head and neck, please.

From Literature

Shortly after he moved to Saudi Arabia, Duran posted a photo of himself on Instagram riding a three-wheeled motorbike with the caption: "Don't try to please everybody - that ain't good."

From BBC

Related Words

• amuse
• charm
• cheer
• entertain
• gratify
• satisfy
• tickle
• wow