please1 interjectionplease2 verb
pleaseplease1 /pliːz/ ●●● S1 W2 interjection 
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- "Would you like some more wine?" "Yes, please."
- Please feel free to ask questions at any time.
- Could I please borrow the car?
- Paige, sit down, please.
- Two pancakes for me, please.
- Would you please hurry up - we're going to be late.
Longman Language Activatorwhat you say to tell someone to sit
spoken · Sit down -- I have some bad news for you.· Sit down and finish your breakfast.
spoken say this to politely ask someone to sit down, especially someone you do not know well: · Take a seat. Mr Bennet will be available in a moment.· You'd better have a seat, Mr Hanks. This may take some time.
formal say this to a group of people to ask them politely to sit down, especially at a public occasion or ceremony: · Would the audience please be seated.· Please do be seated. This won't take a moment.
spoken say this to a dog when you want it to sit down: · Sit, Bowser, sit! Good dog!
what you say to tell someone that you are sorry spoken say this to tell someone you are sorry that you upset them or caused problems for them; you can also say this as a polite way of excusing yourself for a small mistake: · I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be rude.· Sorry, did I step on your foot?I'm very/really/terribly sorry: · I'm really sorry, Joanna. I've broken one of your glasses.sorry/I'm sorry (that): · I'm sorry that I shouted at you.· Sorry we're late, Shelley.sorry/I'm sorry about: · Sorry about all the noise.sorry/I'm sorry to do something: · I'm sorry to bother you, but I need to discuss my essay.sorry/I'm sorry for (doing something): · I'm sorry for barging in without ringing the bell.
especially American, spoken say this to tell someone you are sorry because you accidentally touched them or made a small or embarrassing mistake: · Oh, excuse me, is that your bag I just stood on?· Excuse me - I didn't realize there was anyone in here.
formal spoken say this when you make a small mistake and you want to say sorry politely: · "That's my pen." "Oh, I beg your pardon - I thought it was mine.''
also I apologise British say this to apologize in a fairly formal way, for example when you have upset someone or done something wrong or unfair: · You were right and I was wrong. I apologize.· I apologize in advance if anyone's offended by this.I apologize for: · I apologise for writing to you like this, out of the blue.
say this when you have done something that you later find out to be wrong or unfair: · It seems I owe you an apology -- I was supposed to phone you on Saturday night.I owe you an apology for (doing something): · I think I owe you an apology for my behaviour the other night.
say this when you have done something wrong or have upset someone, or when you are going to say or ask something that might seem rude or offensive: · Forgive me, I didn't mean to offend you.forgive me for doing something: · Forgive me for asking, but how old are you?· Forgive me for saying this, but you really don't look well at all.
used in formal letters: · Please accept my apologies. I will be taking steps to ensure this does not happen again.please accept my apologies for: · Please accept my apologies for any inconvenience this error has caused.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
She’s a very hard worker and very eager to please. The situation is now desperate, so please give generously. She’ll be pleased to hear that she can leave hospital tomorrow. ‘Would you like a sandwich?’ ‘Yes, please.’
She’s a very hard worker and very eager to please. (=used in business letters to say that you are sending something with a letter) Please find enclosed an agenda for the meeting.
Please find enclosed an agenda for the meeting. The situation is now desperate, so please give generously. She’ll be pleased to hear that she can leave hospital tomorrow. (=used to greet someone politely when you have just met them for the first time) ‘This is my niece, Sarah.’ ‘Pleased to meet you.’
‘This is my niece, Sarah.’ ‘Pleased to meet you.’ ‘Would you like a sandwich?’ ‘Yes, please.’PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY► please Sir/Mrs Towers etcPHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► be glad/delighted/pleased etc to see the back of somebody/something► couldn’t be better/worse/more pleased etc► you will be delighted/pleased etc to know (that)► as pleased as Punch► be glad/pleased etc to see the back of somebody/something► surprised/angry/pleased etc isn’t the word for it
1used to be polite when asking someone to do something: - "Maybe we'll win." "Oh, please! We don't have any chance at all."
- Allison! Please!
- His freestyle looked soft and gentle next to all the churning power strokers.
- If you do this for the next ten years you will have achieved 360 of your goals.
- It is definitely suited to family skiing as is Valmorel, the next resort we visited.
- Once off you walk over the mountains to the next town, and over again to another.
- Other works of reference are discussed in the next section.
- Our next bulletin is at 10.30 p.m.
- The next sweeps period is even worse.
- He's as pleased as punch about the baby.
- He had landed a contract as pleased as Punch, and I made a feast for his friends.
- He was a strong, healthy lad and as pleased as punch to be working with Dad.
- Cliff is only too pleased to prepare a celebratory meal for any special occasion.
- I was only too glad to help.
- If none is required, they will be only too pleased to tell you.
- She was only too glad to have even this talk bouncing against walls that had become a tomb.
- The governments were only too pleased to oblige.
- The Library would be only too pleased to explore further suggestions along similar lines. 13.4.
- They know the way that the wind is blowing, and would be only too pleased to be redeployed into another trade.
- We would be only too pleased to provide information on the Association.
Could you please clean up the living room? Sit down, please. Please be quiet!2used to be polite when asking for something: I’d like a cup of coffee, please. Please can I go to Rebecca’s house?3said in order to politely accept something that someone offers you: ‘More wine?’ ‘Yes, please.’4Please! informal a)said when you think what someone has just said or asked is not possible or reasonable: Oh, please, he’d never do that. b)used to ask someone to stop behaving badly: Alison! Please!5please Sir/Mrs Towers etc British English spoken used by children to get an adult’s attentionplease1 interjectionplease2 verb
pleaseplease2 ●●● W3 verb WORD ORIGINplease2
Origin:
1300-1400 Old French plaisir, from Latin placere ‘to please, be decided’VERB TABLE
please
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | I, you, we, they | please |
| he, she, it | pleases | |
| Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | pleased |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have pleased |
| he, she, it | has pleased | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had pleased |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will please |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have pleased |
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Choose room colors to please yourself, not your friends.
- I only got married to please my parents.
- I think he tries a little too hard to please.
- Most young children are eager to please their teachers.
- Sam is always doing little things to please her, but she hardly even notices.
- Can not afford national advertising, so relies on verbal testimonials to expand business, so eager to please.
- I think we have the right to move about as we please.
- I was pleased because this is a perfect text for a pentecostal sermon: it predicts the New Jerusalem.
- I was pleased he hadn't seen the note or the tears that I left behind on my Granny's face.
- I was pleased that they selected these people.
- Serious snowboarders will be pleased to discover most aspects of the sport have been covered.
- They felt this would impart a pleasing curvature to an otherwise rectangular building.
- Unfortunately, it's impossible to please everyone, all of the time, at the same time, but I tried.
Longman Language Activatorto make someone feel happy
· He would do anything to make her happy.· Would winning a million dollars really make you happy?· It made him happy to see how much they enjoyed the presents.
to do something for someone who is sad in order to make them happy: cheer somebody up: · I tried to cheer him up by telling a joke.cheer up somebody: · As a clown he visits local hospitals to cheer up sick children.
informal to say or do something to someone that makes them suddenly feel very happy: · Sherry's phone call really made my day.· Go on, tell him you like his new suit. It'll make his day!
to do something to make someone happy, especially because they want you to do it: · I only got married to please my parents.· Sam is always doing little things to please her, but she hardly even notices.
to do something that makes someone happy for a short time: · If you think buying me flowers will put me in a good mood, you're wrong.· Shopping for new shoes usually puts her in a good mood.
if something raises or lifts someone's spirits , it makes them feel happier and more hopeful after they have been unhappy and not very hopeful: · The chance to get out of the house for a few hours had clearly raised her spirits.· He had been tired when he arrived, but the sight of the little children playing really lifted his spirits.
also cheering British making you feel happier, more hopeful, and more confident: · Kevin's school work is greatly improved, which is heartening.· It was about 8 o'clock when we heard the cheering news that Damien was out of danger.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY Most children are eager to please. She’s hard to please. Everything has to be perfect. She does what she pleases. You can spend the money however you please. With the Explorer pass, you can get on and off the bus as you please.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES She’s a very hard worker and very eager to please. The situation is now desperate, so please give generously. She’ll be pleased to hear that she can leave hospital tomorrow. ‘Would you like a sandwich?’ ‘Yes, please.’COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB
Most children are eager to please. She’s hard to please. Everything has to be perfect. She does what she pleases. You can spend the money however you please. With the Explorer pass, you can get on and off the bus as you please. She’s a very hard worker and very eager to please. (=used in business letters to say that you are sending something with a letter) Please find enclosed an agenda for the meeting.
Please find enclosed an agenda for the meeting. The situation is now desperate, so please give generously. She’ll be pleased to hear that she can leave hospital tomorrow. (=used to greet someone politely when you have just met them for the first time) ‘This is my niece, Sarah.’ ‘Pleased to meet you.’
‘This is my niece, Sarah.’ ‘Pleased to meet you.’ ‘Would you like a sandwich?’ ‘Yes, please.’· The motion had particularly pleased Mobuto who was desperate to bring Zimbala back into world affairs.· The harp, an instrument Britten favored, proved particularly pleasing, its celestial tones foreshadowing Billy's dire end.· Adrian Garvey and Mark Andrews seemed particularly pleased to have their names read out.· The applause in the auditorium was loud and long, and the members of the Working Groups were particularly pleased.· He seemed particularly pleased with himself.· This particularly pleased the young officers who always favored a firm policy, whatever it might be.· It renders a particularly pleasing quality to quail, squab, and pheasant.
· And I am so pleased, Verence, to see your essential modern attitude.· This myth, which so pleased the masters, did not find acceptance among slaves.· Service, please So much for client care!· However, research teams are so pleased with the results of science experiments that they asked managers for a new two-day extension.· So PLEASE readers, this must go no further.· I was so pleased to get my first client.· She hadn't felt so pleased by anything in a long time.· She told me, she never saw a man so pleased by a glass of wine.
· I actually was very pleased indeed to have the opportunity.· We are very pleased to see the administration proposal.· I did not think Martha was very pleased with the arrangement.· But he could not have been very pleased with it.· And I am very pleased she is kind to my poor Rosa - very pleased indeed.· Most organizations have been very pleased with the practical results of their programs, and with the typically very positive employee responses.· I was very pleased with him.· We are very pleased that these students chose Howard University.
NOUN· It was that, blended with a kind of unconvincing desire to please which made people nervous of him.· They felt like giants of desire, pleased happy monsters digging into pay dirt.· I could sense their warmth and desire to please but I didn't know how to respond.· Only unhappiness is gained by acting in accordance with duty, or obligation, or guilt, or the desire to please others.· Our desire to please them will take precedence over our own needs, and our self-possession will be compromised.· William and Joe and their entire consignment of cod vanished in the desire to please Araminta.· This wish is merely repressed, not abolished, by the desire to please the parents by obeying their prohibition.· Even allowing for a desire to please his audience, sentiments of that sort sound better news than warnings of confrontation.
· No need to impart a message, no need to please the eye of the masses, no need to conform.· The knack of outline planting is to arrange a selection of these shapes in groups that are pleasing to the eye.· Quite apart from that, we want to see beautiful people that are pleasing to the eye.· Many modern offerings are hard put to please the eye quite so much.· The inside of the church is friendly and pleasing to the eye.
· Apart from mud sticking everywhere we were quite pleased with the final result.· Morales was pleased with the poll results.· Headteachers could be as secretive as they pleased, concealing their results and disguising their problems.· Vineyards like Napa Ridge like the idea of using low impact, natural pest control and are pleased with the preliminary results.· Employees and supervisors are pleased with the results from the new conveyor system.· However, research teams are so pleased with the results of science experiments that they asked managers for a new two-day extension.· The architects of the system say they are generally pleased with the results so far.· Most organizations have been very pleased with the practical results of their programs, and with the typically very positive employee responses.
VERB· The client pays the bar to take her off, to do what he pleases.· He is crazy about me, he says; he would do anything to please me.· He was going to do as he pleased.· She would do as she pleased, I knew, and I would watch the tide rise.· She loves the Poet, and will do anything to please him, including turning tricks for a variety of kinky characters.· She knew that as long as she was discreet, she could do as she pleased.
· I also felt a need to please people, whatever the cost.· And I felt both pleased and powerful for being in a position to remind him and tell him no.· This made me feel rather pleased with myself.· She hadn't felt so pleased by anything in a long time.· When it was over, Rice felt pleased with the outcome.· We feel very pleased that the crown weren't able to prove the charge of criminal damage.· For instance, when we rise up in the morning, and it is a fine day, we feel pleased.
· Jansher seemed pleased to be showing me his roots.· Then he looked down, seemed pleased with himself, unembarrassed.· This time it seemed to please him.· He seemed anxious to please, but not in an unctuous way.· Somehow, they remained different and seemed rather pleased by that.· Adrian Garvey and Mark Andrews seemed particularly pleased to have their names read out.· He seems pleased when I say this.
· He's trying too hard to please and it's not a nice sight.· I try and try to please everyone, but nobody likes me.· I'd already given up trying to please my father.· Others may simply have tried to please.· Therefore just as the employee tries to please the boss, the boss will try to please the employee.· There are always smiles, no problems in their lives and they spend their time trying to please others.
· It was so frustrating because I wanted to please our customers, but! was constantly having to say no.· The passive-aggressive child wants to please, but angry feelings push up to the surface in maladaptive ways.· They must also want to please each other and help each other to find fulfilment, as well as looking for personal satisfaction.· In addition, they may be timid in expressing their anger-they seem always to want to please.· Sophie basically wants to please and is quite informative.· She was the person he wanted to please, and she was not pleased.· After all, he obviously wanted it of her, and she wanted to please him.· I want to please you - most of us like to be popular and enjoy pleasing other people.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY► bold/calm/cool etc as you pleasePHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► be glad/delighted/pleased etc to see the back of somebody/something► couldn’t be better/worse/more pleased etc► you will be delighted/pleased etc to know (that)► as pleased as Punch► be glad/pleased etc to see the back of somebody/something► surprised/angry/pleased etc isn’t the word for it
- Everything's going to be fine, please God.
- "I don't think I'll go." "Oh, well, please yourself. I'm going anyway."
- Oh, she would please herself, all right.
- She was going home to her flat to please herself for a few weeks.
- There was no foreman to watch over him and he could please himself when he made his walk around the yard.
- They must also want to please each other and help each other to find fulfilment, as well as looking for personal satisfaction.
- This is the first time in I-don't-know-how-many-years I can just please myself!
- Until I get there, though, I can please myself.
- We play not to please ourselves, but the listeners.
- Spell it for me, if you please.
- Bring me a bottle, if you please.
- Doctor Illingworth, to you, sir, if you please!
- Mr Justice Blackstone, if you please.
- Nor friends to vipers, if you please.
- The reader may watch it if he pleases, it exists for itself, not for him.
- They are being forced - by politicians, if you please, as if politics were something serious like money - to compete.
- Three meters, if you please!
- We were in the White House, if you please, and he wanted us to leave the room.
- His freestyle looked soft and gentle next to all the churning power strokers.
- If you do this for the next ten years you will have achieved 360 of your goals.
- It is definitely suited to family skiing as is Valmorel, the next resort we visited.
- Once off you walk over the mountains to the next town, and over again to another.
- Other works of reference are discussed in the next section.
- Our next bulletin is at 10.30 p.m.
- The next sweeps period is even worse.
- He's as pleased as punch about the baby.
- He had landed a contract as pleased as Punch, and I made a feast for his friends.
- He was a strong, healthy lad and as pleased as punch to be working with Dad.
- Cliff is only too pleased to prepare a celebratory meal for any special occasion.
- I was only too glad to help.
- If none is required, they will be only too pleased to tell you.
- She was only too glad to have even this talk bouncing against walls that had become a tomb.
- The governments were only too pleased to oblige.
- The Library would be only too pleased to explore further suggestions along similar lines. 13.4.
- They know the way that the wind is blowing, and would be only too pleased to be redeployed into another trade.
- We would be only too pleased to provide information on the Association.
WORD FAMILYadjectivepleasant ≠ unpleasantpleased ≠ displeasedpleasing ≠ displeasingpleasurableadverbpleasantly ≠ unpleasantlypleasinglypleasurablynounpleasantrypleasure ≠ displeasureverbplease ≠ displease
1[intransitive, transitive] to make someone happy or satisfied: a business that wants to please its customers She did everything she could to please him. Most children are eager to please.be hard/easy/impossible etc to please She’s hard to please. Everything has to be perfect.GRAMMAR: Using the progressivePlease is not used in the progressive. You say: · I do it because it pleases me. ✗Don’t say: I do it because it is pleasing me.Grammar guide ‒ VERBS2[intransitive] used in some phrases to show that someone can do or have what they want: She does what she pleases.however/whatever etc you please You can spend the money however you please. With the Explorer pass, you can get on and off the bus as you please.3please yourself spoken used when telling someone to do whatever they like, even though really you think they are making the wrong choice: ‘I don’t think I’ll go.’ ‘Okay, please yourself.’4if you please old-fashioned a)formal used to politely ask someone to do something: Close the door, if you please. b) British English used to show that you are surprised, angry, or annoyed about something: He asked me, in my own house if you please, to leave the room!5bold/calm/cool etc as you please British English spoken very bold, calm etc, in a way that is surprising: He just walked in and sat down, as bold as you please.6please God used to express a very strong hope or wish: Everything will be all right, please God.