pleasure
1 of 2noun
plea·sure ˈple-zhər 
ˈplā-
ˈplā- 1
: desire, inclination
wait upon his pleasure
William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare2
: a state of gratification
3
a
: sensual gratification
b
: frivolous amusement
4
: a source of delight or joy
pleasure
2 of 2verb
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
Noun
- content
- contentedness
- contentment
- delectation
- delight
- enjoyment
- gladness
- gratification
- happiness
- relish
- satisfaction
Verb
- agree (with)
- content
- delight
- feast
- gas [slang]
- glad [archaic]
- gladden
- gratify
- please
- rejoice
- satisfy
- suit
- warm
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Noun I paint for the sheer pleasure of it. His grandparents took great pleasure in seeing him graduate from college. Is this trip for business or pleasure? It is a special pleasure for me to be here with you today. Now I can enjoy the simple pleasures of life, like spending time with my family. Verb a wine that is sure to pleasure even the most discriminating palate See More
Recent Examples on the Web Katherine Shaver, Washington Post, 6 Sep. 2022 Presidents normally serve at the pleasure of the board and may be replaced at any time and without cause in an open and properly noticed board meeting. Kelly G. Richardson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Aug. 2022 There’s nothing harsh or fatiguing about the sound and long listening sessions are an absolute pleasure. Mark Sparrow, Forbes, 8 Aug. 2022 Dackin served as an at-will employee at the pleasure of the state school board. cleveland, 3 June 2022 The police chief serves at the pleasure of the county executive, under the Baltimore County charter, which gives the executive the power to remove the leaders of any agencies in the executive branch. Darcy Costello, Baltimore Sun, 23 May 2022 Compliance with constitutional rights cannot be subject to the pleasure of the majority. WSJ, 17 May 2022 To a different Big Tech kingdom where our posts reach our friends, family, and followers at the pleasure of Mark Zuckerberg at Facebook or Google's Sundar Pichai, whose company owns YouTube? Evan Greer For Cnn Business Perspectives, CNN, 10 May 2022 On a pictorial level, visually and rhythmically, the series is a pleasure. Mike Hale, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2022 Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 29 July 2022 The grotesquerie of the images is meant to interrupt what pleasure the scene might otherwise prompt. Namwali Serpell, The New York Review of Books, 6 July 2022 Now that effort will pay off, so relax and let someone pleasure you. Allure, 18 Mar. 2022 This romance is about a grumpy Scottish laird falling for a feisty English lady, and trust me, this man knows how to pleasure his woman. Jenny Singer, Glamour, 14 Feb. 2022 Different races have different ratios of misery to pleasure. Jonathan Beverly, Outside Online, 21 Jan. 2020 Try to tap into your creative energy with ample time allotted to art, hobbies, or pleasure each week. Meghan Rose, Glamour, 1 Dec. 2021 Try to tap into your creative energy with ample time allotted to art, hobbies, or pleasure each week. Meghan Rose, Glamour, 1 Dec. 2021 The complaint also said Gilbert attempted to persuade the woman to pleasure herself in her bedroom with the door open. Evan Frank, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 5 Dec. 2021 See More
Noun
Reid serves at the pleasure of the board, which is composed of three commissioners representing Prince George’s and three representing Montgomery County. Katherine Shaver, Washington Post, 6 Sep. 2022 Presidents normally serve at the pleasure of the board and may be replaced at any time and without cause in an open and properly noticed board meeting. Kelly G. Richardson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Aug. 2022 There’s nothing harsh or fatiguing about the sound and long listening sessions are an absolute pleasure. Mark Sparrow, Forbes, 8 Aug. 2022 Dackin served as an at-will employee at the pleasure of the state school board. cleveland, 3 June 2022 The police chief serves at the pleasure of the county executive, under the Baltimore County charter, which gives the executive the power to remove the leaders of any agencies in the executive branch. Darcy Costello, Baltimore Sun, 23 May 2022 Compliance with constitutional rights cannot be subject to the pleasure of the majority. WSJ, 17 May 2022 To a different Big Tech kingdom where our posts reach our friends, family, and followers at the pleasure of Mark Zuckerberg at Facebook or Google's Sundar Pichai, whose company owns YouTube? Evan Greer For Cnn Business Perspectives, CNN, 10 May 2022 On a pictorial level, visually and rhythmically, the series is a pleasure. Mike Hale, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2022 Verb
But committing oneself to pleasure as fully as Beyoncé has here takes defiance and guts—and, more deeply, faith in the preciousness of one’s own experience. Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 29 July 2022 The grotesquerie of the images is meant to interrupt what pleasure the scene might otherwise prompt. Namwali Serpell, The New York Review of Books, 6 July 2022 Now that effort will pay off, so relax and let someone pleasure you. Allure, 18 Mar. 2022 This romance is about a grumpy Scottish laird falling for a feisty English lady, and trust me, this man knows how to pleasure his woman. Jenny Singer, Glamour, 14 Feb. 2022 Different races have different ratios of misery to pleasure. Jonathan Beverly, Outside Online, 21 Jan. 2020 Try to tap into your creative energy with ample time allotted to art, hobbies, or pleasure each week. Meghan Rose, Glamour, 1 Dec. 2021 Try to tap into your creative energy with ample time allotted to art, hobbies, or pleasure each week. Meghan Rose, Glamour, 1 Dec. 2021 The complaint also said Gilbert attempted to persuade the woman to pleasure herself in her bedroom with the door open. Evan Frank, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 5 Dec. 2021 See More Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle English plesure, alteration of plesir, from Anglo-French plaisir, from plaisir to please
First Known Use
Noun
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
1537, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
Phrases Containing pleasure
Kids Definition
pleasure
noun
plea·sure ˈple-zhər
1
: a feeling of enjoyment or satisfaction
I take great pleasure in reading.
2
: recreation or enjoyment
Is the trip for business or pleasure?
3
: something that pleases or delights
It's been a pleasure working with you.
4
: a particular desire
What is your pleasure?
pleasured
verb
as in pleased
to give satisfaction to a wine that is sure to pleasure even the most discriminating palate Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- pleased
- delighted
- satisfied
- warmed
- feasted
- contented
- amused
- thrilled
- gratified
- entertained
- tickled
- gladdened
- suited
- rejoiced
- appeased
- soothed
- excited
- comforted
- satiated
- titillated
- gladded
- sated
- gassed
- placated
- charmed
- calmed
- pacified
- quenched
- captivated
- agreed (with)
- humored
- mollified
- pampered
- treated
- indulged
- spoiled
- assuaged
- coddled
- diverted
- galvanized
- spoilt
- mollycoddled
- catered (to)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- displeased
- bothered
- irritated
- annoyed
- got
- vexed
- outraged
- exasperated
- aggravated
- enraged
- infuriated
- maddened
- angered
- perturbed
- peeved
- piqued
- irked
- chafed
- roused
- crossed
- bugged
- incensed
- disturbed
- grated
- nettled
- provoked
- inflamed
- riled
- galled
- agitated
- harassed
- upset
- rankled
- insulted
- distressed
- roiled
- put out
- steamed up
- offended
- fretted
- affronted
- harried
- enflamed
- pestered
- vext
- ruffled