please
please
Pronunciation
/pliːz/
pliːz
/p/ - voiceless bilabial stop
/l/ - alveolar lateral approximant
/iː/ - close front unrounded vowel (long)
/z/ - voiced alveolar fricative
Word Form Variations
As a verb:
Please (infinitive): To cause pleasure or satisfaction. (e.g., "I only want to please my parents.")
Pleasing (present participle): Causing pleasure or satisfaction. (e.g., "The music was very pleasing to the ear.")
Pleased (past participle): Having experienced pleasure or satisfaction. (e.g., "I was pleased with the results.")
Pleases (3rd person singular present): He/She/It pleases. (e.g., "He pleases his boss by working hard.")
As an interjection:
Please: Used to make a request more polite. (e.g., "Please pass the salt.")
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Verb
Definition: To cause someone to feel happy or satisfied. To give pleasure to.
Synonyms: Delight, gratify, satisfy, gladden, content, amuse, entertain.
Antonyms: Displease, annoy, irritate, bother, offend, upset.
Example: "The comedian's jokes pleased the audience."
Interjection
Definition: A polite word used when making a request or asking for something.
Synonyms: Kindly, if you would, if you please.
Antonyms: (While there isn't a direct opposite, using a demanding or commanding tone would convey the opposite sentiment.)
Example: "Please pass the salt."
It's worth noting that while "pleased" is the past participle of the verb "please", it functions more commonly as an adjective.
Adjective
Definition: Feeling happy or satisfied with something.
Synonyms: Happy, content, satisfied, delighted, glad, gratified.
Antonyms: Displeased, unhappy, dissatisfied, discontent, annoyed.
Example: "I am pleased with your progress."
Examples of Use
Books:
Fiction: "But he had not expected this. 'Please,' he heard himself say. 'Please, just tell me what I need to do.'" (Stephen King, The Institute, Scribner, 2019)
Non-fiction: "To understand the complexities of this issue, please consult the extensive research conducted by Dr. Jane Smith (Smith, 2022)." (From a hypothetical academic text, referencing a specific study)
Newspapers:
"The governor pleaded with residents to 'please stay home and avoid unnecessary travel' as the blizzard intensified." (Quote from Governor Kathy Hochul in The New York Times, "New York Girds for a Blizzard With High Winds and Coastal Flooding", January 25, 2022)
"Please see the classifieds section for local job openings and community events." (Common phrase found in many newspapers, e.g., The Los Angeles Times)
Online Publications:
"For more information on how to donate or volunteer, please visit our website at www.[example charity website].org." (Call to action on the Red Cross website)
"Please note that all sales are final. No refunds or exchanges will be accepted." (From the terms and conditions on the online retailer ASOS)
Entertainment:
Movies: "Please, I can't breathe!" (Eric Garner's plea captured in the documentary "I Can't Breathe: The Killing of Eric Garner")
Music: "Have pity on those whose chances grow thinner; there's no hiding place from the Father of Creation. Please, please, please, let us go." (Lyrics from "Please Let Us Go" by Genesis)
Video Games: "Player: 'Is there anything I can do?' NPC: 'Please, adventurer, find my lost sheep! They've wandered off into the Whispering Woods.'" (Dialogue example from a hypothetical role-playing game)
General Public Discourse:
Everyday conversation: "'Please, Mom, can I have five more minutes?' the child begged before bedtime." (Common plea from children to parents worldwide)
Formal settings: "Please state your name and address for the record." (Standard phrase used in court proceedings)
Customer service: "Please hold the line, and our next available customer service representative will be with you shortly." (Common automated message when calling customer service lines)
10 Famous Quotes Using Please
"Please accept my resignation. I don’t want to belong to any club that will accept me as a member." — Groucho Marx
"Please all, and you will please none." — Aesop
"I have just three things to teach: simplicity, patience, compassion. These three are your greatest treasures. Please hold them close." — Lao Tzu (paraphrased)
"Please remember that sometimes the very best of plans can go awry." — Roald Dahl
"I can resist everything except temptation. Please don’t tempt me." — Oscar Wilde
"Please think about your legacy, because you’re writing it every day." — Gary Vaynerchuk
"Please your eye and plague your heart." — William Shakespeare, Much Ado About Nothing
"Please, sir, I want some more." — Charles Dickens, Oliver Twist
"Please yourself first, and you will be able to please others." — Norman Vincent Peale
"Please don’t take life too seriously. You’ll never get out of it alive." — Elbert Hubbard
Etymology
Imagine a time long ago, before English existed as we know it. Our word "please" has a long journey, starting with the ancient Romans!
Latin Roots: The Romans had a word, "placere," which meant "to be acceptable" or "to be liked." This is the great-grandparent of "please."
French Connection: As the Roman Empire spread, their language influenced others. "Placere" evolved into "plaisir" in Old French, meaning "to please" or "to give pleasure."
Middle English Arrival: Around the 1300s, "please" finally entered Middle English, borrowed from the French. Back then, it was often used in a religious context, like "to please God."
Polite Requests: Over time, "please" started being used to soften requests, likely as a shortened version of "if it please you." This is how we use it most today!
So, "please" began as a word about being agreeable, then transformed into a way to show politeness. Its journey reflects how languages evolve and adapt across cultures and centuries!
Phrases + Idioms Containing Please
Phrases with "please":
If you please: A very formal way to make a request or express surprise. (e.g., "If you please, may I have a word?")
As you please: Meaning "whatever you like" or "do as you wish." (e.g., "You can dress as you please.")
Please yourself: Meaning "do what makes you happy," often with a slightly defiant tone. (e.g., "If you don't want to come, please yourself.")
If it pleases the court: A formal phrase used in legal settings to address the judge.
Idioms with synonyms (for similar effect):
To one's heart's content: Meaning to do something enjoyable for as long as one wants. (e.g., "You can play video games to your heart's content.") This captures the feeling of being pleased.
Tickle someone's fancy: To appeal to someone's taste or interest. (e.g., "That new restaurant might tickle your fancy.") This relates to the idea of pleasing someone.
Bend over backwards: To try very hard to please someone or accommodate them. (e.g., "I bent over backwards to help her, but she wasn't grateful.")
Go out of one's way: To make a special effort to do something nice for someone. (e.g., "He went out of his way to make me feel welcome.") This shows a strong desire to please.
Lesser-known or original phrases:
Please and thank you, the magic words: This emphasizes the importance of politeness.
Pleasing to the eye: Describing something visually appealing.
A pleasing aroma: Describing a pleasant smell.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of please from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
