pleasure
gb/plˈɛʒɚ/ us/plˈɛʒɚ/
A2
English
~ 1700
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B1
state
1
a feeling of enjoyment
A happy or good feeling you get when you enjoy something.
Usage pattern:
[someone] takes pleasure in [something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'pleasure' (the feeling) with 'please' (the verb meaning to make someone happy).
Synonyms
enjoyment (A general word for the feeling of getting pleasure from something.)
|
delight (A stronger, more intense feeling of pleasure.)
Antonyms
displeasure (The feeling of being unhappy or annoyed about something.)
|
pain (Physical or emotional suffering, the opposite of pleasure.)
Collocations
take pleasure
|for your pleasure
|great pleasure
|derive pleasure
|seek pleasure
Themes
emotions
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- It was a real pleasure to meet you.
- She takes great pleasure in cooking for her family.
- Reading is one of his greatest pleasures.
- The trip was a pleasure from start to finish.
Learner examples
- I feel pleasure when I eat chocolate.
- It is a pleasure to see you.
- She gets pleasure from listening to music.
- The party gave me much pleasure.
Noun
B1
entity
2
something enjoyable
Something you enjoy doing or having.
Usage pattern:
[something] is a pleasure
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'pleasure' as a source of enjoyment with 'fun', which refers more to amusement and playfulness.
Synonyms
treat (Something special that gives pleasure, often not done regularly.)
|
luxury (Something pleasurable and often expensive or rare.)
Antonyms
chore (A task that must be done and is not pleasurable.)
Collocations
simple pleasures
|life's pleasures
|guilty pleasure
|small pleasures
Themes
emotions
|daily life
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Gardening is one of my greatest pleasures.
- We spent the afternoon enjoying the simple pleasures of the countryside.
- Chocolate cake is my guilty pleasure.
Learner examples
- Swimming is my pleasure.
- A walk in the park is a pleasure.
- Music is one of my pleasures.
Noun
A2
action
3
'you're welcome' in polite form
A polite way to answer when someone says thank you.
Usage pattern:
'My pleasure' as fixed phrase
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes incorrectly use 'pleasure' alone instead of the fixed phrase 'my pleasure'.
Synonyms
you're welcome (The standard polite response to thanks; 'my pleasure' is slightly warmer or more formal.)
Collocations
my pleasure
Themes
social interactions
|communication
|daily_life
Examples
- 'Thanks for your help.' 'My pleasure.'
- 'It was great talking to you.' 'My pleasure.'
Learner examples
- 'Thank you.' 'My pleasure.'
- 'Thanks for helping.' 'My pleasure.'
Grammar
Dictionary form
pleasure
IPA
GB/plˈɛʒɚ/
US/plˈɛʒɚ/
Syllables & stress
pleas - ure (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (pleas)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: pleasure
- Plural: pleasure, pleasures
Word family
Forms
pleasures
noun
Core family
Related words
pleasing
adjective B1
pleasurable
adjective B2
Negative and opposite forms
Advanced or less common
pleasurably
adverb
pleasantness
noun
Expressions
for your pleasure
1/fɚ jˈʊɹ plˈɛʒɚ/
fixed phrase
meant for enjoyment
Made or done so that you can enjoy it.
Examples
- This music is for your pleasure.
- The hotel offers many activities for your pleasure.
take pleasure in
1/tˈeɪk plˈɛʒɚ ˈɪn/
fixed phrase
enjoy doing something
To enjoy doing something very much.
Examples
- He takes great pleasure in painting.
- They took pleasure in seeing their children succeed.
guilty pleasure
1/ɡˈɪlti plˈɛʒɚ/
fixed phrase
informal
Something you enjoy but feel embarrassed about
Something you like even though you think it is not good or you should not like it.
Examples
- Reality TV is my guilty pleasure.
- Eating chocolate late at night is my guilty pleasure.
- Eating ice cream late at night is her guilty pleasure.
- Reality TV is her biggest guilty pleasure.
my pleasure
1/mˈaɪ plˈɛʒɚ/
fixed phrase
polite reply to thanks
A polite way to say you are happy to help someone.
Examples
- Thanks for helping me move.—My pleasure!
- 'Thank you for the ride.' 'My pleasure.'
- ‘Thank you for the ride.’ ‘My pleasure.’
- 'I appreciate your advice.' 'My pleasure.'