pleasant

adjective

pleas·​ant ˈple-zᵊnt 

1

: having qualities that tend to give pleasure : agreeable

a pleasant day

2

: having or characterized by pleasing manners, behavior, or appearance

pleasantly adverb

pleasantness noun

Synonyms

• enjoyable
• delightful
• nice
• pleasing
• delicious
• sweet
• satisfying
• good
• welcome
• heavenly
• pleasurable

Examples of pleasant in a Sentence

the pleasant smell of cookies baking in the oven

We had a pleasant conversation.

Our evening together was pleasant but not very exciting.

I didn't know you were coming. What a pleasant surprise!

Their new teacher seems pleasant enough.

a very pleasant young man

Recent Examples on the Web

Using a real-life incarceration facility near Geelong in Victoria that had just opened (but wasn’t populated yet), Williams has a setting that’s sunny and modern, not inherently depressing if not exactly pleasant, either. —Dennis Harvey, Variety, 20 June 2025

The most pleasant surprise to me was Ohio’s Matt Ponatoski, ranked as the No. 29 QB by 247Sports. —Bruce Feldman, New York Times, 20 June 2025

Her biggest piece of advice for creating a pleasant patio at your own home? —Nicole Letts, Southern Living, 20 June 2025

The building boasts significant sustainability features and is defined by a sculpted ceiling that shades passengers and creates a pleasant dappled lighting effect inside. —New Atlas, 19 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English plesaunt, from Anglo-French plaisant, from present participle of plaisir

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for pleasant

• peasant
• pheasant
• present
• omnipresent
• unpleasant

Kids Definition

pleasant

adjective

pleas·​ant ˈplez-ᵊnt 

1

: giving pleasure : agreeable

a pleasant day

2

: having or marked by pleasing manners, behavior, or appearance

the new teacher is very pleasant

pleasantly adverb

pleasantness noun