pleasure

UK: /ˈplɛʒə^r/ US: /ˈplɛʒɚ/ ,(plezh′ər)

Inflections of 'pleasure' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

pleasures

v 3rd person singular

pleasuring

v pres p

pleasured

v past

pleasured

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

pleas•ure /ˈplɛʒɚ/   n. 

1. enjoyment from something that one likes:
   [uncountable] They get a lot of pleasure from their grandchildren.
2. a cause or source of enjoyment or delight:
   [countable] the pleasures of the mind.
3. recreation or amusement:
   [uncountable] to travel for pleasure.
4. a feeling of delight in the senses:
   [uncountable] Psychologists study the use of pain and pleasure as ways of motivating people.
5. one's will or desire;
   preference:
   [uncountable] to make known one's pleasure.

Idioms

6. with pleasure or my pleasure, (used to express polite willingness to do what is or has been asked, or gracious satisfaction at having been helpful):
   "Can you come tonight?'' —"With pleasure.'' "Thanks for your help.'' —"My pleasure.''

See -plac-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

pleas•ure  (plezh′ər), n., v., -ured, -ur•ing. 
n. 

1. the state or feeling of being pleased.
2. enjoyment or satisfaction derived from what is to one's liking;
   gratification;
   delight.
3. worldly or frivolous enjoyment:
   the pursuit of pleasure.
4. recreation or amusement;
   diversion;
   enjoyment:
   Are you traveling on business or for pleasure?
5. sensual gratification.
6. a cause or source of enjoyment or delight:
   It was a pleasure to see you.
7. pleasurable quality:
   the pleasure of his company.
8. one's will, desire, or choice:
   to make known one's pleasure.

v.t. 

9. to give pleasure to;
   gratify;
   please.

v.i. 

10. to take pleasure;
    delight:
    I pleasure in your company.
11. to seek pleasure, as by taking a holiday.

• Latin placēre to please
• Middle French (noun, nominal use of infinitive)
• 1325–75; late Middle English (see please, -ure); replacing Middle English plaisir

pleas′ure•ful, adj. 
pleas′ure•less, adj. 
pleas′ure•less•ly, adv. 
Synonyms

• 1. happiness, gladness, delectation.
  Pleasure, enjoyment, delight, joy refer to the feeling of being pleased and happy.
  Pleasure is the general term:
  to take pleasure in beautiful scenery.
  Enjoyment is a quiet sense of well-being and pleasurable satisfaction:
  enjoyment at sitting in the shade on a warm day.
  Delight is a high degree of pleasure, usually leading to active expression of it:
  delight at receiving a hoped-for letter.
  Joy is a feeling of delight so deep and so lasting that one radiates happiness and expresses it spontaneously:
  joy at unexpected good news.
• 5. voluptuousness.
• 8. preference, wish, inclination, predilection.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

pleasure / ˈplɛʒə/ noun

1. an agreeable or enjoyable sensation or emotion: the pleasure of hearing good music
2. something that gives or affords enjoyment or delight: his garden was his only pleasure
3. amusement, recreation, or enjoyment
4. (as modifier): a pleasure boat, pleasure ground
5. sexual gratification or enjoyment: he took his pleasure of her
6. a person's preference or choice

verb

1. when intr, often followed by in: to give pleasure to or take pleasure (in)

Etymology: 14th Century plesir, from Old French; related to Old French plaisir to please