A1 noun #3,902 most common 2 min read

enjoy

To get pleasure or satisfaction from something.

Explanation at your level:

You use enjoy when you like something. For example: 'I enjoy pizza' or 'I enjoy movies.' It makes you feel happy.

Use enjoy to talk about your hobbies. 'I enjoy playing football' or 'I enjoy reading.' Remember to use the -ing form after the verb.

You can use enjoy to be polite. 'Enjoy your meal!' is a very common phrase in restaurants. It shows you want someone to have a nice experience.

Beyond simple likes, enjoy can describe possessing a benefit. 'He enjoys a high salary' means he has the advantage of a good income.

In advanced contexts, enjoy can imply the 'use' or 'exercise' of a right or privilege. 'The citizens enjoy freedom of speech' is a formal way to describe a protected state.

Literary usage often personifies enjoy as a state of being. You might find phrases like 'enjoying the quietude of the evening,' where the word elevates the atmosphere of the scene.

Word in 30 Seconds

  • It means to find pleasure.
  • Always use -ing after it.
  • It is a transitive verb.
  • Commonly used in polite phrases.

When you enjoy something, you are experiencing a sense of pleasure or satisfaction. It is one of the most common ways we describe our positive feelings about hobbies, food, or time spent with friends.

Think of it as the opposite of being bored or indifferent. Whether you are enjoying a delicious meal or enjoying a good book, you are actively participating in the goodness of that moment.

The word enjoy comes from the Old French word enjoier, which literally means 'to give joy to.' It combines the prefix en- (meaning 'in' or 'make') with joie (joy).

It entered the English language in the 13th century. Interestingly, its roots are tied to the Latin gaudere, which is the source of many 'joy' related words in Romance languages.

You can use enjoy with a noun (I enjoy music) or a gerund (I enjoy swimming). Note that we never say 'enjoy to swim'; always use the -ing form after the verb.

It is used in both casual and formal contexts. In a professional setting, you might say, 'I hope you enjoy the presentation,' which sounds polite and welcoming.

Enjoy yourself: To have a good time (e.g., 'Make sure you enjoy yourself at the party!').

Enjoy the ride: To appreciate the process rather than just the goal (e.g., 'Don't worry about the outcome, just enjoy the ride.').

Enjoy good health: To be healthy (e.g., 'She enjoys good health for her age.').

Enjoy one's company: To like being with someone (e.g., 'I really enjoy your company.').

Enjoy the fruits of one's labor: To benefit from your hard work (e.g., 'After years of study, he is finally enjoying the fruits of his labor.').

The verb enjoy is regular. Its forms are enjoys, enjoyed, and enjoying. It is a transitive verb, meaning it usually needs an object.

Pronounced /ɪnˈdʒɔɪ/, the stress is on the second syllable. It rhymes with words like boy, toy, and deploy.

Fun Fact

It replaced the Old English word 'brucan' (to brook/use).

Pronunciation Guide

UK /ɪnˈdʒɔɪ/

Clear 'in' sound followed by 'joy'.

US /ɪnˈdʒɔɪ/

Similar to UK, slightly more rounded 'o'.

Common Errors

  • Mispronouncing the 'j' as 'y'
  • Stressing the first syllable
  • Adding an extra vowel sound

Rhymes With

boy toy joy coy deploy

Difficulty Rating

Reading 1/5

Simple word

Writing 1/5

Easy to use

Speaking 1/5

Common

Listening 1/5

Very common

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

like good fun

Learn Next

enjoyment enjoyable

Advanced

savor relish

Grammar to Know

Gerunds

I enjoy swimming.

Transitive Verbs

I enjoy it.

Reflexive Pronouns

Enjoy yourself.

Examples by Level

1

I enjoy apples.

I like apples.

Verb + noun.

2

She enjoys music.

She likes music.

Third person singular -s.

3

We enjoy games.

We like games.

Simple present.

4

I enjoy the sun.

I like the sun.

Verb + noun phrase.

5

They enjoy school.

They like school.

Simple present.

6

I enjoy my dog.

I like my dog.

Possessive pronoun.

7

Do you enjoy it?

Is it fun for you?

Question form.

8

I enjoy walking.

I like to walk.

Verb + gerund.

1

I enjoy cooking dinner.

2

Do you enjoy traveling?

3

He enjoys watching TV.

4

We enjoy the weekend.

5

They enjoy playing tennis.

6

I enjoy learning English.

7

She enjoys her job.

8

I enjoy cold weather.

1

Enjoy your stay in London!

2

I really enjoy his company.

3

She enjoys a good challenge.

4

We enjoyed the concert last night.

5

He enjoys gardening on Saturdays.

6

They enjoy spending time together.

7

I enjoy listening to jazz.

8

Did you enjoy the movie?

1

He enjoys a reputation for honesty.

2

She enjoys the benefits of her hard work.

3

I hope you enjoy the rest of your day.

4

The hotel enjoys a great location.

5

They enjoy a close relationship.

6

I enjoy the process of writing.

7

We enjoy the freedom of living here.

8

He enjoys great respect in his field.

1

The company enjoys a monopoly in the market.

2

She enjoys the privilege of early retirement.

3

The house enjoys a view of the sea.

4

He enjoys the full confidence of the board.

5

The project enjoys widespread support.

6

They enjoy a high standard of living.

7

The law enjoys broad public approval.

8

He enjoys the luxury of working from home.

1

The region enjoys a temperate climate.

2

She enjoys the fruits of her long-term investment.

3

The author enjoys a cult following.

4

He enjoys the immunity granted by his status.

5

The city enjoys a rich cultural heritage.

6

They enjoy the quietude of the countryside.

7

The team enjoys a winning streak.

8

He enjoys the distinction of being the first.

Synonyms

pleasure delight satisfaction happiness gratification amusement

Antonyms

misery dissatisfaction displeasure

Common Collocations

greatly enjoy
enjoy a meal
enjoy life
enjoy success
enjoy the view
enjoy the company
enjoy a reputation
enjoy benefits
thoroughly enjoy
enjoy the ride

Idioms & Expressions

"enjoy yourself"

have a good time

Go out and enjoy yourself!

casual

"enjoy the ride"

appreciate the journey

Life is short, enjoy the ride.

casual

"enjoy the fruits of one's labor"

reap rewards

He is enjoying the fruits of his labor.

formal

"enjoy good health"

be healthy

She enjoys good health.

neutral

"enjoy the limelight"

be the center of attention

He loves to enjoy the limelight.

neutral

"enjoy a laugh"

have fun/laugh

We enjoyed a laugh together.

casual

Easily Confused

enjoy vs Like

Similar meaning

Enjoy is stronger

I like pizza vs I enjoy pizza.

enjoy vs Appreciate

Both positive

Appreciate is about value

I appreciate your time.

enjoy vs Love

Both positive

Love is much stronger

I love my family.

enjoy vs Relish

Both mean enjoy

Relish is very formal

I relish the challenge.

Sentence Patterns

A1

Subject + enjoy + noun

I enjoy music.

A2

Subject + enjoy + gerund

I enjoy reading.

A2

Subject + enjoy + reflexive

Enjoy yourself!

B2

Subject + enjoy + noun phrase

He enjoys a high salary.

B1

Subject + enjoy + object + adverb

I really enjoy it.

Word Family

Nouns

enjoyment the state of enjoying

Verbs

enjoy to find pleasure

Adjectives

enjoyable pleasant

Related

joy root noun

How to Use It

frequency

9

Formality Scale

Formal: The company enjoys... Neutral: I enjoy reading. Casual: Enjoy! Slang: N/A

Common Mistakes

enjoy to swim enjoy swimming
Enjoy is always followed by a gerund (-ing) or a noun.
enjoy yourselfs enjoy yourselves
The plural of yourself is yourselves.
I enjoy to the music I enjoy the music
Enjoy is transitive; no preposition needed.
I enjoyed at the party I enjoyed the party
Enjoy is transitive; do not use 'at'.
enjoying of enjoying
Do not add 'of' after enjoy.

Tips

💡

In Joy

Remember it as 'In Joy'.

💡

Polite Phrases

Use 'Enjoy!' when giving something.

🌍

Hospitality

It is a sign of good hospitality.

💡

No 'to'

Never use 'to' after enjoy.

💡

Joy

Focus on the 'joy' part.

💡

Transitive

Don't add prepositions.

💡

History

From French 'enjoier'.

💡

Keep a list

List 5 things you enjoy.

💡

Gerunds

Always pair with -ing.

💡

Context

Use it to show appreciation.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

EN (in) + JOY = In Joy.

Visual Association

A person smiling while eating ice cream.

Word Web

happy fun pleasure satisfaction like

Challenge

Use 'enjoy' five times today.

Word Origin

Old French

Original meaning: to give joy

Cultural Context

None

Used frequently in social greetings like 'Enjoy!' when handing someone food.

'Enjoy the Silence' by Depeche Mode 'Enjoy' by Björk

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Dining

  • Enjoy your meal!
  • Did you enjoy the food?

Social

  • Enjoy yourself!
  • I enjoy your company.

Work

  • Enjoy the benefits.
  • Enjoy the success.

Travel

  • Enjoy your stay.
  • Enjoy the trip.

Conversation Starters

"What do you enjoy doing on weekends?"

"Do you enjoy your current job?"

"What is the last thing you enjoyed?"

"Do you enjoy meeting new people?"

"What kind of music do you enjoy?"

Journal Prompts

Write about a hobby you enjoy.

Describe a meal you recently enjoyed.

Why is it important to enjoy life?

Who do you enjoy spending time with?

Frequently Asked Questions

8 questions

No, always use -ing.

No, it is a verb.

Enjoyment.

It can be both formal and casual.

Enjoyed.

Yes, 'Enjoy your meal!'

Yes, but it is stronger.

Extremely common.

Test Yourself

fill blank A1

I ___ the movie.

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: enjoy

Subject-verb agreement.

multiple choice A2

Which is correct?

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: I enjoy reading

Enjoy + gerund.

true false B1

Can you say 'I enjoyed at the park'?

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: False

Enjoy is transitive.

match pairs B1

Word

Meaning

All matched!

Synonym matching.

sentence order B2

Tap words below to build the sentence
Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:

Subject-verb-object.

Score: /5

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