please
- 01 B1 Intermediate
v.to make someone feel happy or satisfied.
v.to give pleasure to or satisfy the desires of another person.
Simple“He worked hard to please his parents by getting good grades.”
In context“The chef went to great lengths to please the critics, knowing a single negative review could damage the restaurant's reputation.”
UsageOften used in the passive form 'to be pleased with'.
- 02 C1 Advanced
v.to choose to do something or to do what you want.
v.to have the will or desire to do something; often used in formal or literary contexts.
Simple“You may come and go as you please during the conference.”
In context“The guests were informed they could wander the estate as they pleased, provided they did not disturb the private gardens.”
UsageCommonly follows 'as', 'what', or 'where'.
- 03 A1 Beginner
adv.a word you use to be polite when you ask for something.
adv.a politeness marker used to soften a request or command.
Simple“Could I have a glass of water, please?”
In context“Please ensure that all electronic devices are switched to silent mode before the performance begins.”
PitfallGive 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.
Synonyms - 04 A1 Beginner
interj.a polite way to say 'yes' when someone offers you something.
interj.used as a polite affirmative response to an offer or invitation.
Simple“"Would you like some more tea?" "Yes, please."”
In context“"Would you care for a lift to the station?" "Yes, please, that would be most helpful."”
SynonymsAntonymsno thank you
Usage please use · please adhere · please check
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.
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.
Semantic loan from German bitte (“please; excuse me”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.