pleasure

pleasure — noun

1. a happy, satisfied feeling, or a person, thing, or event that gives you that fee

1.nounB1
Definition

a happy, satisfied feeling, or a person, thing, or event that gives you that feeling

Example

Lina's letter gave her father great pleasure during his hospital stay.

give somebody pleasure

It was a pleasure to hear the children laughing outside.

be a pleasure to + verb

Common collocations
  • great pleasure
  • real pleasure
  • simple pleasure
  • give somebody pleasure
  • take pleasure in
Synonyms
  • joy

    usually stronger and more emotional than pleasure

  • delight

    brighter and more lively, often for a special moment

  • satisfaction

    often connected with getting a result you wanted

Antonyms
  • pain

    the opposite physical or emotional experience

  • displeasure

    formal and usually means annoyance rather than enjoyment

Grammar Patterns

give somebody pleasure

take pleasure in + noun/gerund

be a pleasure to + verb

one of somebody's pleasures

Usage Note

Often uncountable when it means the feeling itself, but countable when it means a source of that feeling. This is also the only sense used in patterns like It is a pleasure to meet you.

Common Mistakes

I am pleasure to meet you.
It is a pleasure to meet you.' / 'I am pleased to meet you.
pleasure is a noun; pleased is an adjective.
Shopping gives me many pleasures.
Shopping gives me a lot of pleasure.
Use uncountable pleasure for the feeling itself.

2. an activity or part of life that you do for fun, especially when it is not work

2.nounB2
Definition

an activity or part of life that you do for fun, especially when it is not work

Example

Mina paints birds for pleasure after finishing her office work.

for pleasure = not for work

Jordan studies French for pleasure, not for an exam.

Common collocations
  • for pleasure
  • travel for pleasure
  • read for pleasure
  • pleasure boating
  • pleasure trip
Synonyms
  • fun

    more informal and often more lively

  • recreation

    more formal and common in organized activities

  • pastime

    usually a regular hobby or way to pass time

  • leisure

    often focuses on free time, not one activity

Antonyms
  • work

    activity done as a job or duty

  • duty

    something you must do rather than enjoy doing

Grammar Patterns

for pleasure

do something for pleasure

Usage Note

Most often appears after for to show that something is done because people enjoy it. Distinguish from sense 1, which names the good feeling or the thing that brings it.

Common Mistakes

I read history in pleasure.
I read history for pleasure.
The usual preposition with this sense is for.
She joined the club for a pleasure.
She joined the club for pleasure.
This pattern is usually uncountable.
Idioms

at your/somebody’s pleasure

idiom

whenever you choose, or whenever another person allows it

Guests may leave the garden at their own pleasure after dinner.

The prince could call the guard back at his pleasure.

a guilty pleasure

idiom

a thing you like even though you feel a little ashamed of liking it

Late-night singing shows are Mei's guilty pleasure after hard weeks.

For David, sweet canned coffee is a guilty pleasure on road trips.

my pleasure

idiom

said after someone thanks you, meaning you were glad to help

After Ava thanked Ben for the ride, he said, 'My pleasure.'

The waiter smiled and said, 'My pleasure,' when Nora thanked him.

with pleasure

idiom

said to show warm agreement when someone asks or invites you

When Aunt May asked for tea, Leo replied, 'With pleasure.'

‘Would you join us for dinner?’ ‘With pleasure,’ Dr. Chen answered.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

For noun/1, pleasure is a broad, neutral word for feeling good or for something that brings that feeling. Joy is usually stronger and more emotional, often for very happy moments. Delight suggests a bright, lively kind of pleasure, sometimes with surprise. Satisfaction is calmer and is often linked to getting the result you wanted or doing something well. Fun is more informal and often points to amusing activities rather than a deep feeling. You can say It was a pleasure to meet Professor Wu after a warm conversation, but winning the final might bring joy, and finishing a hard project often brings satisfaction.

joy ↗delight ↗satisfaction ↗fun ↗

Etymology

FrenchAnglo-FrenchMiddle EnglishEnglish

Pleasure entered English in the Middle English period from Anglo-French plaisir, a word connected with the verb that later became please in English. From early on, it referred to being pleased or satisfied. English then extended it to mean both the feeling itself and the things or activities that give that feeling, which is why it also appears in polite fixed expressions such as my pleasure and with pleasure.