pleasure

[ plezh-er ]

noun

1. the state or feeling of being pleased.

   Synonyms: gladness, delectation, happiness

2. enjoyment or satisfaction derived from what is to one's liking; gratification; delight.
3. worldly or frivolous enjoyment:

   the pursuit of pleasure.

4. recreation or amusement; diversion; enjoyment:

   Are you traveling on business or for pleasure?

5. sensual gratification.

   Synonyms: voluptuousness

6. a cause or source of enjoyment or delight:

   It was a pleasure to see you.

7. pleasurable quality:

   the pleasure of his company.

8. one's will, desire, or choice:

   to make known one's pleasure.

   Synonyms: predilection, inclination, wish, preference

verb (used with object)

, pleas·ured, pleas·ur·ing.

1. to give pleasure to, especially sexually; gratify; please.

verb (used without object)

, pleas·ured, pleas·ur·ing.

1. to take pleasure; delight:

   I pleasure in your company.

2. to seek pleasure, as by taking a holiday.

pleasure

/ ˈplɛʒə /

noun

1. an agreeable or enjoyable sensation or emotion

   the pleasure of hearing good music

2. something that gives or affords enjoyment or delight

   his garden was his only pleasure

3. 1. amusement, recreation, or enjoyment
   2. ( as modifier )

      pleasure ground

      a pleasure boat

4. euphemistic.
   sexual gratification or enjoyment

   he took his pleasure of her

5. a person's preference or choice

verb

1. whenintr, often foll by in to give pleasure to or take pleasure (in)

Derived Forms

• ˈpleasureless, adjective
• ˈpleasureful, adjective

Other Words From

• pleas·ure·ful adjective
• pleas·ure·less adjective
• pleas·ure·less·ly adverb
• an·ti·pleas·ure noun adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of pleasure¹

First recorded in 1325–75; late Middle English ( please, -ure ); replacing Middle English plaisir, from Middle French (noun use of infinitive), from Latin placēre “to please”

Word History and Origins

Origin of pleasure¹

C14 plesir, from Old French; related to Old French plaisir to please

Synonym Study

Pleasure, enjoyment, delight, joy refer to the feeling of being pleased and happy. Pleasure is the general term: to take pleasure in beautiful scenery. Enjoyment is a quiet sense of well-being and pleasurable satisfaction: enjoyment at sitting in the shade on a warm day. Delight is a high degree of pleasure, usually leading to active expression of it: delight at receiving a hoped-for letter. Joy is a feeling of delight so deep and so lasting that one radiates happiness and expresses it spontaneously: joy at unexpected good news.

Example Sentences

In this time of shelter-in-place and social distancing, while restaurants have switched to delivery-only or closed entirely, eating — and finding the pleasure in eating, wherever we can — has taken on a whole new urgency.

From Eater

Watching Eric Andre dance along the edge of way too far is a pleasure.

From Ozy

With its pleasures and plumage, its elaborate and often exhausting mating rituals, it has the power to smash up and patch up lives.

From Nautilus

On a recent weekday morning, I had the pleasure of meeting her in a Zoom call.

From Quartz

Confronted with several possible actions, we predict which will be most rewarding based on experience—weighing the pleasure of eating a chocolate chip cookie against avoiding a cavity and trip to the dentist.

From Singularity Hub 

My body used for his hard pleasure; a stone god gripping me in his hands.

From The Daily Beast

Pleasure shoots magically in every direction like an explosion of sparks.

From The Daily Beast

I had the pleasure of meeting Stuart Scott several years ago.

From The Daily Beast

So here, for your Christmas Eve pleasure, are 20 of my favorites, 10 from the ecclesiastical division and 10 secular.

From The Daily Beast

People will always scratch and save if a sudden burst of unrestrained pleasure can be purchased.

From The Daily Beast

A flash of surprise and pleasure lit the fine eyes of the haughty beauty perched up there on the palace wall.

From Project Gutenberg

Big Reginald took their lives at pool, and pocketed their half-crowns in an easy genial way, which almost made losing a pleasure.

From Project Gutenberg

He saw with evident pleasure the outward and visible signs of the old earl's immense wealth.

From Project Gutenberg

As Felipe approached, the old man's face beamed with pleasure, and he came forward totteringly, leaning on a staff in each hand.

From Project Gutenberg

He used to walk through the park, and note with pleasure the care that his father bestowed on the gigantic property.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• amusement
• bliss
• comfort
• contentment
• enjoyment
• gratification
• hobby
• joy
• luxury
• satisfaction
• thrill