PLEASE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does please mean? 

• PLEASE (verb)
  The verb PLEASE has 3 senses:

1. give pleasure to or be pleasing to

2. be the will of or have the will (to)

3. give satisfaction

  Familiarity information: PLEASE used as a verb is uncommon.

• PLEASE (adverb)
  The adverb PLEASE has 1 sense:

1. used in polite request

  Familiarity information: PLEASE used as an adverb is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• PLEASE (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they please    ... he / she / it pleases   
Past simple: pleased   
Past participle: pleased   
-ing form: pleasing   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Give pleasure to or be pleasing to

Classified under:

Verbs of feeling

Synonyms:

delight; please

Context example:

a pleasing sensation

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

gratify; satisfy (make happy or satisfied)

Cause:

like (be fond of)

like (find enjoyable or agreeable)

Verb group:

please (give satisfaction)

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

endear (make attractive or lovable)

delight; enchant; enrapture; enthral; enthrall; ravish; transport (hold spellbound)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody

Sentence examples:

The good news will please her
The performance is likely to please Sue

Antonym:

displease (give displeasure to)

Derivation:

pleasant (affording pleasure; being in harmony with your taste or likings)

pleaser (a pleasing entertainer)

pleasing (the act of one who pleases)

pleasure (an activity that affords enjoyment)

pleasure (something or someone that provides a source of happiness)

pleasure (a fundamental feeling that is hard to define but that people desire to experience)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Be the will of or have the will (to)

Classified under:

Verbs of feeling

Context example:

he could do many things if he pleased

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

care; like; wish (prefer or wish to do something)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s

Derivation:

pleasure (an activity that affords enjoyment)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Give satisfaction

Classified under:

Verbs of feeling

Context example:

The waiters around her aim to please

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

gratify; satisfy (make happy or satisfied)

Verb group:

delight; please (give pleasure to or be pleasing to)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody

Derivation:

pleasant ((of persons) having pleasing manners or behavior)

• PLEASE (adverb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Used in polite request

Context example:

please pay attention

 Context examples 

Even I, depressed in mind, and my spirits continually agitated by gloomy feelings, even I was pleased.

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)

I wish, said Henrietta, very well pleased with her companion, I wish Lady Russell lived at Uppercross, and were intimate with Dr Shirley.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

He nodded his head in a pleased way.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

I'll have a glass of rum from this dear child here, as I've took such a liking to; and we'll sit down, if you please, and talk square, like old shipmates.

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

You may be shocked to see a pleasing resolution on December 15.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

But I could not eat; to even try to do so was repulsive to me, and, much as I would have liked to please him, I could not bring myself to the attempt.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

At Lowood, indeed, I took that resolution, kept it, and succeeded in pleasing; but with Mrs. Reed, I remember my best was always spurned with scorn.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

A question about the frequency or intensity an individual feels or felt happy, satisfied, or pleased with their personal life.

(How Happy, Satisfied, or Pleased Are You With Your Personal Life, NCI Thesaurus)

The feeling of being pleased and content.

(Happiness, NCI Thesaurus)

We realize that it can be difficult to make these estimates, and most likely it will be a 'best guess,' but please give us your best estimate.

(NPS - How Intense is Your Deep Pain, NCI Thesaurus)