Library / English Dictionary

PLEASE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Give pleasure to or be pleasing to

Example:

a pleasing sensation

Synonyms:

delight; please

Classified under:

Verbs of feeling

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:

Give satisfaction

Example:

The waiters around her aim to please

Classified under:

Verbs of feeling

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)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Be the will of or have the will (to)

Example:

he could do many things if he pleased

Classified under:

Verbs of feeling

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)

 II. (adverb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Used in polite request

Example:

please pay attention

Classified under:

Adverbs

Credits

 Context examples: 

You might not find a description that reflects your condition exactly, but please mark the one category that describes your situation the closest.

(PDDS - Category Describing Situation, NCI Thesaurus)

Where the heart is really attached, I know very well how little one can be pleased with the attention of anybody else.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

“Very good. Come this way, if you please.”

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Well, then, will you please compare that print with this wax impression of young McFarlane’s right thumb, taken by my orders this morning?

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

It would have pleased your uncle to be inquired of farther.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

“Can you cook this young gentleman's breakfast for him, if you please?” said the Master at Salem House.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

Valuable or useful or agreeable or pleasing.

(Good, NCI Thesaurus)

Please forgive me, Jo. I'm very, very sorry.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

He was certainly pleased with this good attendance, but still at last he was so afraid that he went to a wise woman and asked for her advice.

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

"Come along," said the Scarecrow heartily, and Dorothy added that she would be pleased to have his company.

(The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum)