please

American  

[pleez] / pliz /

adverb

1. (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?

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verb (used with object)

pleased, pleasing

1. to act to the pleasure or satisfaction of.

   to please the public.

2. to be the pleasure or will of.

   May it please your Majesty.

verb (used without object)

pleased, pleasing

1. to like, wish, or feel inclined.

   Go where you please.

   Synonyms:

   wish, want, like, choose

2. to give pleasure or satisfaction; be agreeable.

   manners that please.

idioms

1. if you please,

   1. if it be your pleasure; if you like or prefer.

   2. (used as an exclamation expressing astonishment, indignation, etc.).

      The missing letter was in his pocket, if you please!

please British  

/ ˈpliːzɪdlɪ, pliːz /

verb

1. to give satisfaction, pleasure, or contentment to (a person); make or cause (a person) to be glad

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

   if it pleases you

   the court pleases

3. if you will or wish, sometimes used in ironic exclamation

4. happy because of

5. to do as one likes

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adverb

1. (sentence modifier) used in making polite requests and in pleading, asking for a favour, etc

   please don't tell the police where I am

2. a polite formula for accepting an offer, invitation, etc

please More Idioms  

1. see as you please.

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Other Word Forms

• half-pleased adjective
• outplease verb (used with object)
• overplease verb
• pleasable adjective
• pleased adjective
• pleasedly adverb
• pleasedness noun
• pleaser noun
• self-pleased adjective
• unpleasable adjective
• unpleased adjective
• well-pleased adjective

Etymology

Origin of please

First recorded in 1275–1325; (verb) Middle English plesen, plaisen, from Middle French plaisir, ultimately from Latin placēre “to please, seem good” ( placid ); the use of please with requests, etc., is presumably a reduction of the clause (it) please you “may it please you,” later reinforced by imperative use of intransitive please to be pleased, wish

Example Sentences

I was pleased with the results I got testing ExpressVPN for speed.

From Salon

Apollo said it was pleased to facilitate the transaction and support Intel’s priorities.

From The Wall Street Journal

Chief Executive Sean Connolly said he was pleased to see the company return to organic sales growth.

From The Wall Street Journal

“We shared an apartment together, bank account, dog … judge me for it, please. That was 20-year-old me, but don’t judge me for being trans.”

From Los Angeles Times

“As we have maintained, this lawsuit was entirely without merit, and we are pleased with the court’s ruling on the matter,” a Fox News representative said in a statement.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• amuse
• charm
• cheer
• entertain
• gratify
• satisfy
• tickle
• wow