please
(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?
to act to the pleasure or satisfaction of: to please the public.
to be the pleasure or will of: May it please your Majesty.
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
1Other words for please
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 BEASTFew 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 BEASTI 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 BEASTLaBeouf 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 BEASTWhen 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. WilliamsonAs the devil never wanted insinuators, I shall observe, that I learned a way how to make a man dream of what I pleased.
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 LeacockI 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
/ (pliːz) /
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
(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
1Derived 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
see as you please.
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
Browse