pleasure

verb

pleasured; pleasuring ˈplezh-riŋ 

ˈplāzh-;

ˈple-zhə-, 

ˈplā-

transitive verb

1

: to give pleasure to : gratify

2

: to give sexual pleasure to

intransitive verb

1

: to take pleasure : delight

2

: to seek pleasure

Synonyms of pleasure

• delight
• please
• satisfy
• warm
• thrill
• feast

Examples of pleasure in a Sentence

a wine that is sure to pleasure even the most discriminating palate

Recent Examples on the Web

Fifty years ago, a young woman named Hannah pleasured herself in a erotic magazine photo spread. —Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 22 May 2026

Next to be honored was Dying for Sex, a limited FX series that followed a woman who was dying from breast cancer and her journey to pleasure despite the harrowing diagnosis. —Dominique Fluker, Forbes.com, 21 May 2026

Tradwives are delivering the last shreds of domestic privacy, intimacy, and pleasure directly into the hands of late-stage capitalism. —Literary Hub, 4 May 2026

Finances, confidence and self-worth could be tied to pleasure, dating or spending habits today. —Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 24 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1537, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing pleasure

• anti-pleasure
• at someone's pleasure
• at the pleasure of (someone)
• gold of pleasure
• guilty pleasure
• mix business with pleasure
• my pleasure
• pleasure craft
• pleasure dome
• pleasure principle
• take pleasure in
• takes pleasure
• what's your pleasure?
• With pleasure

Rhymes for pleasure

• leisure
• measure
• treasure
• countermeasure
• displeasure

Kids Definition

pleasure

noun

plea·​sure

ˈplezh-ər, 

ˈplāzh-

1

: a particular desire or purpose : inclination

what's your pleasure

2

: the feeling that comes when one's wishes are met

3

: a source of delight or joy