please

verb \ ˈplēz \

|Updated on: 16 Jul 2018

Examples: please in a Sentence

Definition of please

pleased; pleasing

intransitive verb

1 : to afford or give pleasure or satisfaction

2 : like, wish

do as you please

3 archaic : to have the kindness

will you please to enter the carriage
—Charles Dickens

transitive verb

1 : to give pleasure to : gratify

2 : to be the will or pleasure of

may it please Your Majesty

—

pleaser

play \ˈplē-zər\ noun

See please defined for English-language learners

See please defined for kids

Examples of please in a Sentence

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 of please from the Web

Blazers summer-league head coach Jim Moran was asked after the game what most pleased him about his team’s 93-78 win over the Jazz.

— josh robbins, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Edgewater High alum Anfernee Simons enjoys solid NBA debut," 7 July 2018
To leave on-line condolences please visit www.carmonfuneralhome.com.

— hartford courant, courant.com, "Florence J. White," 7 July 2018
The women’s movement, meanwhile, has given me permission both to please myself and to reject men.

— michelle weber, Longreads, "Can the Political Override the Personal?," 29 June 2018
The Žilina prodigy has previously been questioned on the apparent interest from the Red Devils, and has maintained that Inter's determination to retain his services has pleased him.

— SI.com, "Report Claims Man Utd Bid £57m for Inter Defender as Jose Mourinho Looks to Bolster Backline," 28 June 2018
Please call me, but please make sure that my supervisor knows nothing about it.

— claudia blumer, The Christian Science Monitor, "In Switzerland, giving children a say in life-changing decisions," 15 June 2018
Test your knowledge, below (and please enjoy 24 adorable pictures of Meghan and Harry along the way).

— alex warner, Marie Claire, "Meghan Markle Has to Pass a Test to Become a British Citizen—Would You Be Able To?," 16 May 2018
Sales Associates team up with degreed Designers to help clients achieve the rooms that will please them beyond their expectations.

— joan westlake, azcentral, "La-Z-Boy of Arizona is on ‘Top’," 14 May 2018
But my question is—and please bear with me because this is somewhat complicated—how far out into the future did Ford program Bernard, or even his narrative as a whole?

— mehera bonner, Harper's BAZAAR, "Westworld's Season 2 Premiere Delivered Complete Chaos," 23 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'please.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of please

Middle English plesen, from Anglo-French plaisir, pleisir, pleire, from Latin placēre; akin to Latin placare to placate and perhaps to Greek plak-, plax flat surface — more at fluke

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

See Words from the same year