enjoy

[ en-joi ]

verb (used with object)

1. to experience with joy; take pleasure in:

   He enjoys Chinese food.

   Synonyms: savor, relish, fancy, appreciate

2. to have and use with satisfaction; have the benefit of:

   He enjoys an excellent income from his trust funds.

   Synonyms: own, possess

3. to find or experience pleasure for (oneself ):

   She seems to enjoy herself at everything she does.

4. to undergo (an improvement):

   Automobile manufacturers have enjoyed a six-percent rise in sales over the past month.

5. to have intercourse with.

enjoy

/ ɪnˈdʒɔɪ /

verb

1. to receive pleasure from; take joy in
2. to have the benefit of; use with satisfaction
3. to have as a condition; experience

   the land enjoyed a summer of rain

4. archaic.
   to have sexual intercourse with
5. enjoy oneself
   to have a good time

Derived Forms

• enˈjoyably, adverb
• enˈjoyable, adjective
• enˈjoyer, noun
• enˈjoyableness, noun

Other Words From

• en·joyer noun
• en·joying·ly adverb
• preen·joy verb (used with object)
• reen·joy verb (used with object)
• unen·joyed adjective
• unen·joying adjective
• unen·joying·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of enjoy¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English enjoyen “to make joyful,” from Old French enjoier “to give joy to”; en- ¹( def ), joy ( def )

Word History and Origins

Origin of enjoy¹

C14: from Old French enjoir, from en- ¹+ joir to find pleasure in, from Latin gaudēre to rejoice

Example Sentences

“I was very angry at first that this had happened. I guess what I’m most apprehensive about would be if I can’t hear well enough to really enjoy the act of making music,” Simon revealed.

From Salon

Mark enjoys his job and likes the people that he works with.

From BBC

Christmas is coming to television, and you might as well enjoy it.

From Los Angeles Times

Still, she enjoyed the experience of transforming herself, including cutting her hair on camera and improvising scenes with her co-stars.

From Los Angeles Times

They added that she had been living "her best life travelling through South East Asia meeting new friends and enjoying incredible experiences" when she became ill.

From BBC

Related Words

• boast
• experience
• have
• hold
• maintain
• own
• retain
• use