please

verb

Save Word

\ ˈplēz

pleased; pleasing

Definition of please

(Entry 1 of 2)

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

please

adverb

Definition of please (Entry 2 of 2)

1 —used as a function word to express politeness or emphasis in a requestplease come in

2 —used as a function word to express polite affirmationlike some tea? Please

3 —used as a function word to express scornful disagreement, disapproval, or disbeliefyou believe that? Oh, please

Other Words from please Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about please

Keep scrolling for more

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 Web: Verb At the same time, Trump had to please his father by continuing to portray himself as a wild success. — Susan B. Glasser, The New Yorker, "President Winning-by-Losing Is, in Fact, Losing," 9 July 2020 For a garden party theme, these cute gingham plates are sure to please. — Tanya Edwards, CNN Underscored, "How to host a socially distant summer party," 8 July 2020 For a garden party theme, these cute gingham plates are sure to please. — Tanya Edwards, CNN Underscored, "How to host a socially distant summer party," 8 July 2020 The studio system was perhaps the era’s most powerful source of archetypes, fantasies, and illusions, and, as Brooks shows, their collective effect was to groom women to defer to men, to please men, to submit to men. — Richard Brody, The New Yorker, "Rediscovering “The Happy Ending,” a Movie About the Dreams and Delusions of Marriage (and the Movies)," 7 July 2020 This summer, the hotel by the sea is teaming up with Sperry to create a package to please the most discerning shoe-loving travelers. — Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, "This Adorable Hotel in Maine Teamed Up With Sperry Shoes for a Quintessential New England Vacation," 7 July 2020 More money sometimes means the possibility of more interference and anxiety and eagerness to please, making the picture less concentrated and more diffuse. — Tyler Aquilina, EW.com, "Exclusive: Read Martin Scorsese's introduction to Ari Aster's Midsommar," 1 July 2020 Being on the right side of history matters more than trying to please everyone all of the time. — J. Michael, The Indianapolis Star, "Pacers coach Nate McMillan eager to see 'new America' emerge from this turmoil," 29 June 2020 For a garden party theme, these cute gingham plates are sure to please. — Tanya Edwards, CNN Underscored, "How to host a socially distant summer party," 23 June 2020

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.