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Synonyms

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?

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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
please More Idioms  

  1. see as you please.

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

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.