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REFERENCE

please

v. · adv. · interj.
US //ˈpɫiz// UK //plˈiːz// please
  1. 1 to satisfy or make happy (v.)
    B1 Intermediate

    to make someone feel happy or satisfied.

    to give pleasure to or satisfy the desires of another person.

    Example

    He worked hard to please his parents by getting good grades.

    Example

    The chef went to great lengths to please the critics, knowing a single negative review could damage the restaurant's reputation.

    Usage

    Often used in the passive form 'to be pleased with'.
  2. 2 to wish or choose (v.)
    C1 Advanced Formal Literary

    to choose to do something or to do what you want.

    to have the will or desire to do something; often used in formal or literary contexts.

    Example

    You may come and go as you please during the conference.

    Example

    The guests were informed they could wander the estate as they pleased, provided they did not disturb the private gardens.

    Usage

    Commonly follows 'as', 'what', or 'where'.
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  1. 3 polite request (adv.)
    A1 Beginner

    a word you use to be polite when you ask for something.

    a politeness marker used to soften a request or command.

    Example

    Could I have a glass of water, please?

    Example

    Please ensure that all electronic devices are switched to silent mode before the performance begins.
    Pitfall
    Give me the salt, please?
    Could you pass the salt, please?

    While 'please' is polite, using it with a direct command can sometimes sound demanding; using a question is softer.

  2. 4 accepting an offer (interj.)
    A1 Beginner

    a polite way to say 'yes' when someone offers you something.

    used as a polite affirmative response to an offer or invitation.

    Example

    "Would you like some more tea?" "Yes, please."

    Example

    "Would you care for a lift to the station?" "Yes, please, that would be most helpful."
    • no thank you
Etymology 1

From Middle English plesen, plaisen, borrowed from Old French plaise, conjugated form of plaisir or plaire, from Latin placeō (“to please, to seem good”), from the Proto-Indo-European *pleHk- (“pleasingness, permission”). In this sense, displaced native Old English līcian, whence Modern English like.

Etymology 2

Short for if you please, an intransitive, ergative form taken from if it please you which is a calque of French s'il vous plaît, which replaced pray. If it please you is a present subjunctive form, but most current uses of please are not parsed that way.

Etymology 3

Semantic loan from German bitte (“please; excuse me”).

Word family
Idioms1 entry

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