ENJOY

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does enjoy mean? 

• ENJOY (verb)
  The verb ENJOY has 5 senses:

1. derive or receive pleasure from; get enjoyment from; take pleasure in

2. have benefit from

3. get pleasure from

4. have for one's benefit

5. take delight in

  Familiarity information: ENJOY used as a verb is common.

 Dictionary entry details 

• ENJOY (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they enjoy    ... he / she / it enjoys   
Past simple: enjoyed   
Past participle: enjoyed   
-ing form: enjoying   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Derive or receive pleasure from; get enjoyment from; take pleasure in

Classified under:

Verbs of feeling

Synonyms:

bask; enjoy; relish; savor; savour

Context example:

She relished her fame and basked in her glory

"Enjoy" entails doing...:

like (find enjoyable or agreeable)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "enjoy"):

feast one's eyes (look at with great enjoyment)

devour (enjoy avidly)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Somebody ----s VERB-ing

Derivation:

enjoyer (a person who delights in having or using or experiencing something)

enjoyment (act of receiving pleasure from something)

enjoyment (the pleasure felt when having a good time)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Have benefit from

Classified under:

Verbs of eating and drinking

Context example:

enjoy privileges

Hypernyms (to "enjoy" is one way to...):

apply; employ; use; utilise; utilize (put into service; make work or employ for a particular purpose or for its inherent or natural purpose)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

enjoyment ((law) the exercise of the legal right to enjoy the benefits of owning property)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Get pleasure from

Classified under:

Verbs of feeling

Synonyms:

enjoy; love

Context example:

I love cooking

Hypernyms (to "enjoy" is one way to...):

like (find enjoyable or agreeable)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "enjoy"):

get off (enjoy in a sexual way)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s to INFINITIVE

Sentence example:

They enjoy him to write the letter

Derivation:

enjoyer (a person who delights in having or using or experiencing something)

enjoyment (act of receiving pleasure from something)

enjoyment (the pleasure felt when having a good time)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Have for one's benefit

Classified under:

Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling

Context example:

The industry enjoyed a boom

Hypernyms (to "enjoy" is one way to...):

experience; go through; see (undergo or live through a difficult experience)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s something

Antonym:

suffer (undergo or be subjected to)

Sense 5

Meaning:

Take delight in

Classified under:

Verbs of eating and drinking

Synonyms:

delight; enjoy; revel

Context example:

he delights in his granddaughter

"Enjoy" entails doing...:

expend; use (use up, consume fully)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "enjoy"):

have a ball; have a good time (enjoy oneself greatly)

wallow (delight greatly in)

live it up (enjoy oneself)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s PP

Sentence examples:

Sam and Sue enjoy the movie
They will enjoy the duet

Derivation:

enjoyer (a person who delights in having or using or experiencing something)

enjoyment (act of receiving pleasure from something)

enjoyment (the pleasure felt when having a good time)

 Context examples 

But the dwarf said, “Let the poor things enjoy themselves, you shall not kill them.”

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

But there was one man amongst them who particularly enjoyed the sport.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

"I never enjoyed housekeeping, and I'm going to take a vacation today, and read, write, go visiting, and amuse myself."

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

I dare say you'd quite enjoy it.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

You had better return to your partner and enjoy her smiles, for you are wasting your time with me.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

"Yes," I said; but I could not go on for ever so: I want to enjoy my own faculties as well as to cultivate those of other people.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

We enjoy looking at a lush green lawn or a red rose in full bloom.

(Color Blindness, NIH)

Most people with disabilities can - and do - work, play, learn, and enjoy full, healthy lives.

(Disabilities, Department of Health and Human Services)

Symptoms can include: • Sadness • Loss of interest or pleasure in activities you used to enjoy • Change in weight • Difficulty sleeping or oversleeping • Energy loss • Feelings of worthlessness • Thoughts of death or suicide

(Depression, NIH: National Institute of Mental Health)

A native or naturalized member of a state or country, especially one entitled to vote and enjoy other privileges there.

(Citizen, NCI Thesaurus)