Definition

1. Adverb:

   • Used to make a polite request or to add politeness to an instruction: "please" is used to make a request or command more courteous and less direct.

2. Verb (transitive and intransitive):

   • To give pleasure, satisfaction, or gratification to someone: To cause someone to feel happy or satisfied.
   • To be the will or desire of someone; to wish or want: Used to express one's own preference or desire, often in a formal or old-fashioned construction.
   • To like, wish, or choose (to do something): To have the inclination or preference.

Examples of Usage

• Adverb:

  • Please close the door. (A polite request to close the door.)
  • Could you please help me? (A polite way to ask for assistance.)
  • Sit down, please. (A polite instruction.)

• Verb:

  • He tries hard to please his boss. (He tries to make his boss happy.)
  • The music pleased the audience. (The music gave pleasure to the audience.)
  • Do as you please. (Do what you wish or want to do.)
  • I shall do as I please. (I will do what I want.)

Advanced Usage

• "If you please": A formal or sometimes ironic phrase used to make a request or to express surprise or indignation.

  • Follow me, if you please. (A very polite request to follow.)
  • And now, if you please, he wants me to apologize! (Expressing annoyance or disbelief at his expectation.)

• "Please yourself": Used to tell someone they are free to do what they like, sometimes implying indifference.

  • I'm not going. Please yourself. (Do what you want; I don't care.)

• "Please God" / "God willing": An expression of hope that something will happen.

  • Please God, let everything be okay. (I hope to God that everything is okay.)

Variants and Related Words

• Pleased (adjective): Feeling or showing pleasure and satisfaction.
  • She was pleased with the results.
• Pleasing (adjective): Giving pleasure; agreeable.
  • The painting has a pleasing composition.
• Pleasure (noun): A feeling of happy satisfaction and enjoyment.
  • It gives me great pleasure to be here.

Synonyms

• Adverb: Kindly (as in "Kindly respond").
• Verb (to give pleasure): Delight, gratify, satisfy.
• Verb (to wish): Want, desire, choose.

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

(Note: "Please" is not commonly used to form standard phrasal verbs. Its combinations are typically fixed phrases or idioms.)

Related Idioms

• "To be hard to please": To be very critical or difficult to satisfy.
  • The restaurant critic is notoriously hard to please.
• "To please the eye": To be attractive or visually pleasing.
  • The garden is designed to please the eye.

Adverb

1. used in polite request
   • please pay attention

Verb

1. give satisfaction
   • The waiters around her aim to please
2. be the will of or have the will (to)
   • he could do many things if he pleased
3. give pleasure to or be pleasing to
   • These colors please the senses
   • a pleasing sensation