1
: desire, inclination
… wait upon his pleasure …—
William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare2
: a state of gratification
I paint for the pleasure of it.
She takes pleasure in helping others.
"Would you do this for me?" "With pleasure." [=I would be happy to do it]
3
a
: sensual gratification
b
: frivolous amusement
business or pleasure
4
: a source of delight or joy
It's been a pleasure working with you.
"Thanks for your help." "It was my pleasure." [=I was happy to help]
Now I can enjoy the simple pleasures of life, like being with my family.
see also guilty pleasure
pleasured; pleasuring
ˈplezh-riŋ 
ˈplāzh-;
ˈple-zhə-,
ˈplā-
Examples of pleasure in a Sentence
Noun
I paint for the sheer pleasure of it.
His grandparents took great pleasure in seeing him graduate from college.
Is this trip for business or pleasure?
It is a special pleasure for me to be here with you today.
Now I can enjoy the simple pleasures of life, like spending time with my family.
Verb
a wine that is sure to pleasure even the most discriminating palate
Recent Examples on the Web
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Mar. 2026
Having simple pleasures such as this will make rising early to water feel like less of a chore.
—Michelle Mastro, The Spruce, 4 Mar. 2026
Carly Thomas, HollywoodReporter, 27 Feb. 2026
In an early draft, Judy had written a scene in which Sandy uses her dog to pleasure herself.
—Mark Oppenheimer, Vulture, 25 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pleasure
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Noun
The silence of the lake—save for the gentle peal of church bells on Sunday mornings and the plop of ducks plunging beneath the water surface—is a rare and unforgettable pleasure.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Mar. 2026
Having simple pleasures such as this will make rising early to water feel like less of a chore.
—Michelle Mastro, The Spruce, 4 Mar. 2026
Verb
Sophie has spent so long this season being a role of service, and for Benedict to now be washing her hair and then pleasuring her felt like a really nice switcheroo that Sophie deeply deserved.
—Carly Thomas, HollywoodReporter, 27 Feb. 2026
In an early draft, Judy had written a scene in which Sandy uses her dog to pleasure herself.
—Mark Oppenheimer, Vulture, 25 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pleasure
Cite this Entry
“Pleasure.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pleasure. Accessed 9 Mar. 2026.
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