please

[ pleez ]

See synonyms for: please pleased pleasing on Thesaurus.com

adverb

(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, pleas·ing.

to act to the pleasure or satisfaction of: to please the public.
to be the pleasure or will of: May it please your Majesty.

verb (used without object),pleased, pleas·ing.

to like, wish, or feel inclined: Go where you please.
to give pleasure or satisfaction; be agreeable: manners that please.

Idioms about please

if you please,
- if it be your pleasure; if you like or prefer.
- (used as an exclamation expressing astonishment, indignation, etc.): The missing letter was in his pocket, if you please!

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

Other words for please

4	choose, like, want, wish

See synonyms for please on Thesaurus.com

Other words from please

pleas·a·ble, adjective
pleas·ed·ly [plee-zid-lee, pleezd-], /ˈpli zɪd li, ˈplizd-/, adverb
pleas·ed·ness, noun
pleas·er, noun
half-pleased, adjective
out·please, verb (used with object), out·pleased, out·pleas·ing.
o·ver·please, verb, o·ver·pleased, o·ver·pleas·ing.
self-pleased, adjective
un·pleas·a·ble, adjective
un·pleased, adjective
well-pleased, adjective

Words that may be confused with please

pleas, please

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use please in a sentence

I'm pleased with my decision to avoid the routine script problems in favor of the spicy stuff.
Alfred Hitchcock’s Fade to Black: The Great Director’s Final Days | David Freeman | December 13, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
Few have the nerve to call him and he's usually pleased when an old friend does.
Alfred Hitchcock’s Fade to Black: The Great Director’s Final Days | David Freeman | December 13, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
I hand him the script and with it a little speech about how excited and pleased I am with the work, blah-blah-blah.
Alfred Hitchcock’s Fade to Black: The Great Director’s Final Days | David Freeman | December 13, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
LaBeouf remained silent, and the “actor”—or person visiting him in the room—could do whatever they pleased with him.
Shia LaBeouf Claims He Was Raped During His Performance Art Project #IAMSORRY | Marlow Stern | November 28, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
When the song ended, Wembore anticipated a fight and took off, pleased with the subversion of his dance.
‘Argo’ in the Congo: The Ghosts of the Stanleyville Hostage Crisis | Nina Strochlic | November 23, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST

He had got his ticket of admission to the Casino, after arriving yesterday evening; but the Rooms had not pleased him then.
Rosemary in Search of a Father | C. N. Williamson
As the devil never wanted insinuators, I shall observe, that I learned a way how to make a man dream of what I pleased.
The Life and Most Surprising Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, of York, Mariner (1801) | Daniel Defoe
Each did his duty, or was adjured to do it, in the "state of life to which it had pleased God to call him."
The Unsolved Riddle of Social Justice | Stephen Leacock
I knew he was pleased, because whenever he corrected me he would say, "Nein, Kindchen" in such a gentle way!
Music-Study in Germany | Amy Fay
"Never better pleased to see anyone in my life," said Blair, nearly shaking Lawrence's arm off.
The Courier of the Ozarks | Byron A. Dunn

British Dictionary definitions for please

please

/ (pliːz) /

verb

to give satisfaction, pleasure, or contentment to (a person); make or cause (a person) to be glad
to be the will of or have the will (to): if it pleases you; the court pleases

if you please if you will or wish, sometimes used in ironic exclamation
pleased with happy because of
please oneself to do as one likes

adverb

(sentence modifier) used in making polite requests and in pleading, asking for a favour, etc: please don't tell the police where I am
yes please a polite formula for accepting an offer, invitation, etc

Origin of please

C14 plese, from Old French plaisir, from Latin placēre to please, satisfy

Derived forms of please

pleasable, adjective
pleased, adjective
pleasedly (ˈpliːzɪdlɪ), adverb
pleaser, noun

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

Other Idioms and Phrases with please

please

see as you please.

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