enjoy
Americanverb (used with object)
-
to experience with joy; take pleasure in.
He enjoys Chinese food.
- Synonyms:
- savor, relish, fancy, appreciate
-
to have and use with satisfaction; have the benefit of.
He enjoys an excellent income from his trust funds.
-
to find or experience pleasure for (oneself ).
She seems to enjoy herself at everything she does.
-
to undergo (an improvement).
Automobile manufacturers have enjoyed a six-percent rise in sales over the past month.
-
to have intercourse with.
verb
-
to receive pleasure from; take joy in
-
to have the benefit of; use with satisfaction
-
to have as a condition; experience
the land enjoyed a summer of rain
-
archaic to have sexual intercourse with
-
to have a good time
Other Word Forms
- enjoyable adjective
- enjoyableness noun
- enjoyably adverb
- enjoyer noun
- enjoyingly adverb
- preenjoy verb (used with object)
- reenjoy verb (used with object)
- unenjoyed adjective
- unenjoying adjective
- unenjoyingly adverb
Etymology
Origin of enjoy
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English enjoyen “to make joyful,” from Old French enjoier “to give joy to”; en- 1 ( def. ), joy ( def. )
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"We can enjoy our small town life," she said, "for at least a little while longer, we hope."
From BBC • Apr. 4, 2026
I bring a wagon to carry all my finds and really enjoy hunting for treasures.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2026
Taking its current form only about a year ago, the show has gained traction among founders and billionaires, as well as regular tech nerds who simply enjoy listening to three-hour-long daily podcasts.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 3, 2026
The new channel on Tencent Video -- China's most popular online streaming platform -- is meant to keep pets company while alone or can act as an activity for animals and humans to enjoy together.
From Barron's • Apr. 3, 2026
The babies were at the age when they could sit up quite well and enjoy the scenery.
From "The Hidden Gallery" by Maryrose Wood
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
