please
Americanadverb
verb (used with object)
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to act to the pleasure or satisfaction of.
to please the public.
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to be the pleasure or will of.
May it please your Majesty.
verb (used without object)
idioms
verb
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to give satisfactionpleasureor contentment to (a person); make or cause (a person) to be glad
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to be the will of or have the will (to)
if it pleases you
the court pleases
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if you will or wishsometimes used in ironic exclamation
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happy because of
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to do as one likes
adverb
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(sentence modifier) used in making polite requests and in pleadingasking for a favouretc
please don't tell the police where I am
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a polite formula for accepting an offerinvitationetc
Other Word Forms
- half-pleased adjective
- outplease verb (used with object)
- overplease verb
- pleasable adjective
- pleased adjective
- pleasedly adverb
- pleasedness noun
- pleaser noun
- self-pleased adjective
- unpleasable adjective
- unpleased adjective
- well-pleased adjective
Etymology
Origin of please
First recorded in 1275–1325; (verb) Middle English plesenplaisen, from Middle French plaisir, ultimately from Latin placēre “to pleaseseem good” ( see placid); the use of please with requestsetc.is presumably a reduction of the clause (it) please you “may it please you,” later reinforced by imperative use of intransitive please to be pleasedwish
Explanation
To please someone is to give them pleasure or to make them happy. This is also a word for polite requests like"Could you please pass the milk?" Have you ever been asked "What's the magic word"? It's pleasea small word that makes any request more polite. Saying please is sure to please just about everyonealthough different things please different people. Turning in your homework on time will please your teacherswhile a good belly rub and some extra treats will please your dog.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Manufacturers do their best to please everyone andwhen their products arrive looking different from the artificial-intelligence fantasy presentedthey risk pleasing no one.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 172026
“And basicallythe pope doesn’t have to please anybody except the Lord himself.”
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 172026
“While we have reviewed the email copies you provided regarding the citation reversal and memorandum of cost summaryplease be advised that our department does not currently accept electronic filing services.”
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 132026
"If you witnessed the incident or have any information or social media footage that may assist the investigationplease contact us," a spokesperson said.
From BBC • Apr. 122026
Pleaseplease be on the lookout for us.
From "Across So Many Seas" by Ruth Behar
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridgedbased on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary© Random HouseInc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 200220011995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
