pleased; pleasing
1
: to afford or give pleasure or satisfaction
3
archaic
: to have the kindness
will you please to enter the carriage—
Charles Dickens
Charles Dickens1
: to give pleasure to : gratify
2
: to be the will or pleasure of
may it please Your Majesty
1
—used as a function word to express politeness or emphasis in a request
please come in
2
—used as a function word to express polite affirmation
like some tea? Please
3
—used as a function word to express scornful disagreement, disapproval, or disbelief
you believe that? Oh, please
Synonyms
Examples of please in a Sentence
Verb
He joined the football team to please his father.
Her parents were pleased by her decision.
It pleases me to know that you liked the gift.
They're very hard to please.
Recent Examples on the WebEugenia Last, The Mercury News, 26 Apr. 2024
What to Know About Bath Mats Before Shopping Size
No matter how aesthetically pleasing a bath mat may be, considering the right size and fit is a crucial first step in the process of finding the right bath mat for your needs.
—Kate Oczypok, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 Apr. 2024
Residents have been pleased by the new attention from state and local officials in recent months but have wondered if it’s only come about because newer and wealthier residents in growing developments around the city have also now been affected.
—Silvia Foster-Frau, Washington Post, 18 Apr. 2024
Favoring rich purples, pinks, charcoals and pleasing low contrasts, Ms. Zazeela’s visuals allowed Mr. Young’s compositions to be photogenic, synesthetic and sensuous.
—Walker Mimms, New York Times, 17 Apr. 2024
To be able to please both factions of viewers is to be operating at a virtuosic level, as my colleague David Sims has written.
—Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 15 Apr. 2024
These slices of aged pork produced by Lucerne in Pleasanton may please.
—Jolene Thym, The Mercury News, 17 Apr. 2024
The proposal pleased New Mexicans and rankled Arizonans of the time.
—Kaely Monahan, The Arizona Republic, 10 Apr. 2024
The administration has been pleased by Japan’s strong support for Ukraine.
—Aamer Madhani, Fortune Asia, 10 Apr. 2024
Christopher Borrelli, chicagotribune.com, 23 Dec. 2021
Verb
High energy and an eagerness to please will gain approval, support and the opportunity to use your skills to achieve financial success.
—Eugenia Last, The Mercury News, 26 Apr. 2024
What to Know About Bath Mats Before Shopping Size
No matter how aesthetically pleasing a bath mat may be, considering the right size and fit is a crucial first step in the process of finding the right bath mat for your needs.
—Kate Oczypok, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 Apr. 2024
Residents have been pleased by the new attention from state and local officials in recent months but have wondered if it’s only come about because newer and wealthier residents in growing developments around the city have also now been affected.
—Silvia Foster-Frau, Washington Post, 18 Apr. 2024
Favoring rich purples, pinks, charcoals and pleasing low contrasts, Ms. Zazeela’s visuals allowed Mr. Young’s compositions to be photogenic, synesthetic and sensuous.
—Walker Mimms, New York Times, 17 Apr. 2024
To be able to please both factions of viewers is to be operating at a virtuosic level, as my colleague David Sims has written.
—Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 15 Apr. 2024
These slices of aged pork produced by Lucerne in Pleasanton may please.
—Jolene Thym, The Mercury News, 17 Apr. 2024
The proposal pleased New Mexicans and rankled Arizonans of the time.
—Kaely Monahan, The Arizona Republic, 10 Apr. 2024
The administration has been pleased by Japan’s strong support for Ukraine.
—Aamer Madhani, Fortune Asia, 10 Apr. 2024
Adverb
Naturally, during the 113 years those bells have hung in Mitchell Tower, there have been Hyde Park residents asking if these (expletive) change ringers would please stop.
—Christopher Borrelli, chicagotribune.com, 23 Dec. 2021
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'please.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Please.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/please. Accessed 3 May. 2024.
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