enjoy

verb

en·​joy in-ˈjȯi How to pronounce enjoy (audio)
en-
enjoyed; enjoying; enjoys

intransitive verb

: to have a good time

transitive verb

1
: to have for one's use, benefit, or lot : experience
enjoyed great success
2
: to take pleasure or satisfaction in
enjoyable adjective
enjoyableness noun
enjoyably adverb
enjoyer noun
Phrases
enjoy oneself
: to have a good time

Examples of enjoy in a Sentence

Relax and enjoy the view. He always enjoys a good laugh. No one enjoys being teased. She enjoyed great success in her new business. The show enjoyed a brief surge of popularity. They enjoyed a large income from their investments.
Recent Examples on the Web The awe-inspiring sight—which occurs when electrically charged solar particles interact with gasses in the earth’s atmosphere—is best enjoyed in rural areas where little light pollution allows aurora to shine its brightest. Paul Rubio, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Mar. 2024 Although the team won’t be in Las Vegas until at least 2028, Rich is talking about players such as Lawrence Butler, who played last season with the Aviators but was called up to the big leagues in August and enjoyed his time in Nevada. Kirk Kern, The Mercury News, 11 Mar. 2024 One student would appreciate a more robust description of the protagonist’s emotions, but enjoys the sparseness, too. Maya Binyam, The New Yorker, 11 Mar. 2024 Arizona is enjoying faster-than-average economic growth, low unemployment and a flood of high-tech investment. Jeanne Whalen, Washington Post, 11 Mar. 2024 The night drew to a close, with guests enjoying their final bites of berries and cream before heading out to the myriad parties kicking off Oscars weekend in Los Angeles. Rachel Besser, Vogue, 10 Mar. 2024 Don’t bring anything that’s on the list—because all that does is save you money rather than broaden the experience of enjoying a fine wine with dinner. Mike Desimone and Jeff Jenssen, Robb Report, 10 Mar. 2024 Uno Flip makes the beloved game just a pinch more complicated—in a way every age group can enjoy—by adding a second set of colors and numbers on the flip side of each card. Stephanie Osmanski, Southern Living, 9 Mar. 2024 Path Of Totality While everyone in North America will see the partial phases through solar eclipse glasses, only those within the 115-mile-wide track of the moon’s shadow will enjoy a brief totality. Jamie Carter, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'enjoy.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English enjoien, from Anglo-French enjoir, enjoier to gladden, enjoy, from en- + joie joy

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of enjoy was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near enjoy

Cite this Entry

“Enjoy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/enjoy. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

enjoy

verb
en·​joy in-ˈjȯi How to pronounce enjoy (audio)
1
: to have or experience as a benefit or for one's use
enjoy great success
enjoying the freedom to pursue one's interests
2
: to take pleasure from
I didn't enjoy the movie
enjoyable adjective
enjoyableness noun
enjoyably adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on enjoy

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