Explanation at your level:
You use pleased when you are happy. If a friend gives you a gift, you are pleased. You can say, 'I am pleased to meet you.' It is a very nice word to use when you want to be polite.
When something good happens, you feel pleased. If you finish your homework, you feel pleased with yourself. It is a common word used in daily life to show that you are satisfied with a situation or a person's behavior.
Pleased is often used to express satisfaction with a result. For example, 'The teacher was pleased with the student's progress.' It is more formal than 'happy' and is very useful for work or school environments to give positive feedback.
In professional contexts, pleased is a staple. We use it to acknowledge achievements or to express politeness, such as 'We are pleased to announce...' It conveys a sense of professional satisfaction that is highly valued in formal correspondence.
At this level, pleased can be used with nuance to describe a state of calm gratification. It contrasts with 'elated' or 'thrilled,' which imply higher energy. Using 'pleased' suggests a controlled, mature appreciation of a situation, often used in literature to describe a character's internal state of approval.
The usage of pleased at the C2 level often involves subtle irony or understatement. For instance, saying someone is 'not entirely pleased' can be a polite way of expressing strong disapproval. Its etymological roots in 'placere' (to be acceptable) inform its use in formal discourse, where it serves as a marker of social and professional alignment.
Word in 30 Seconds
- Pleased means feeling satisfied.
- It is an adjective.
- Use 'with' for nouns and 'to' for verbs.
- It is a polite and common word.
When you are pleased, you are feeling a warm sense of satisfaction. It is that nice, quiet feeling you get when things go exactly the way you wanted them to. Think of it as a gentle version of happiness.
You might feel pleased with your own work, or you might be pleased to meet someone new. It is a very versatile word that works in almost any situation, from casual chats with friends to professional emails at the office.
The word pleased comes from the Old French word plaisir, which means 'to please.' This traces back even further to the Latin word placere, meaning 'to be acceptable' or 'to be agreeable.'
Historically, it has always been linked to the idea of something being 'agreeable' to the senses or the mind. Over centuries, it evolved from describing something that gives pleasure into describing the person who feels that pleasure themselves. It is a great example of how words shift from describing an object to describing a human emotion.
You will most often see pleased used with a preposition, such as 'pleased with' or 'pleased to.' For example, you are 'pleased with the results' or 'pleased to see you.' It is a very polite and standard way to express approval.
In terms of register, it is perfectly safe for both formal and casual settings. Using 'pleased' often sounds slightly more sophisticated than just saying 'happy,' making it a great choice for business communication or polite social interactions.
1. Pleased as punch: To be very delighted. Example: She was pleased as punch with her new promotion.
2. More than pleased: Extremely satisfied. Example: The client was more than pleased with the final design.
3. To be pleased to meet you: A standard, polite greeting. Example: It is a pleasure to meet you.
4. Well-pleased: Very satisfied. Example: He looked well-pleased after finishing his meal.
5. Pleased with oneself: Feeling proud of one's own actions. Example: He looked very pleased with himself after winning the game.
As an adjective, pleased does not have a plural form. It is pronounced as a single syllable, ending with a soft 'd' sound: /pliːzd/. Be careful not to add an extra syllable at the end!
Common patterns include 'pleased with + noun' or 'pleased to + verb.' It is a predicative adjective, meaning it usually comes after a linking verb like 'be' or 'seem.' Rhymes include teased, seized, and breezed.
Fun Fact
It shares a root with 'pleasure'.
Pronunciation Guide
Sounds like 'please' with a 'd' at the end.
Similar to UK, clear 'd' sound.
Common Errors
- Adding a syllable
- Pronouncing 'ed' as 'id'
- Softening the 'z' too much
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Easy
Easy
Easy
Easy
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Advanced
Grammar to Know
Adjective usage
I am happy.
Infinitive patterns
Pleased to meet.
Prepositional phrases
Pleased with it.
Examples by Level
I am pleased to meet you.
Nice to meet you
Pleased + to + verb
She is pleased.
She is happy
Adjective usage
He is pleased with the toy.
He likes the toy
Pleased + with
Are you pleased?
Are you happy?
Question form
We are pleased today.
We are happy today
Subject-verb agreement
I am pleased with my grade.
I like my grade
Pleased + with + noun
They look pleased.
They seem happy
Linking verb 'look'
I am very pleased.
I am very happy
Adverb 'very'
I am pleased with my new car.
She was pleased to hear the news.
He felt pleased with his work.
We are pleased that you came.
They were pleased by the gift.
Everyone seemed pleased.
I am pleased to help you.
She is pleased with her progress.
The manager was pleased with the team's performance.
I am pleased to inform you that you passed.
He was more than pleased with the result.
She appeared pleased with the arrangement.
We are pleased to offer you the position.
The audience was pleased by the performance.
I am pleased to see you doing well.
They are pleased with the current situation.
The board was pleased to note the increase in revenue.
I am pleased to accept your invitation.
She was visibly pleased by the unexpected praise.
We are pleased to announce our new partnership.
He was not entirely pleased with the final draft.
The committee was pleased with the outcome of the vote.
I am pleased to confirm your appointment.
They were pleased to find a common ground.
He felt a quiet sense of being pleased with his life choices.
The professor was pleased to observe such academic rigor.
She was pleased to find her efforts had finally borne fruit.
It is a rare thing to be truly pleased with one's own work.
The diplomat was pleased to facilitate the agreement.
He remained pleased despite the minor setbacks.
She was pleased to discover the truth.
The director was pleased with the artistic direction.
His countenance was clearly pleased, though he said nothing.
She was pleased to find the archaic text still legible.
The outcome left the stakeholders more than merely pleased.
He was pleased to note the subtle irony in her remark.
The architect was pleased with the structural integrity of the design.
She was pleased to see the tradition being upheld.
The outcome was, to say the least, pleasingly unexpected.
He was pleased to be relieved of his duties.
Common Collocations
Idioms & Expressions
"pleased as punch"
Very happy
She was pleased as punch with her gift.
casual"well-pleased"
Very satisfied
He was well-pleased with the meal.
neutral"pleased with oneself"
Proud
He looked very pleased with himself.
neutral"more than pleased"
Extremely happy
We are more than pleased to help.
formal"not a happy camper"
Displeased
He was not a happy camper today.
casual"to one's heart's content"
As much as one likes
She ate to her heart's content.
neutralEasily Confused
Similar root
Pleasant describes the thing; Pleased describes the person.
The day was pleasant; I was pleased.
Same root
Pleasure is the noun; Pleased is the adjective.
It is a pleasure; I am pleased.
Same root
Please is the verb.
You please me; I am pleased.
Sentence Patterns
Subject + be + pleased + with + noun
I am pleased with the gift.
Subject + be + pleased + to + verb
I am pleased to help.
Subject + be + pleased + that + clause
I am pleased that you came.
Subject + be + very + pleased
He was very pleased.
Subject + look + pleased
She looks pleased.
Word Family
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
Related
How to Use It
9
Formality Scale
Common Mistakes
Use the infinitive after 'pleased to'.
Use 'with' for things.
Use 'pleased' for feelings.
By is often better for external events.
Pleased is an adjective, not an adverb.
Tips
Memory Palace
Imagine a 'P' for 'Pleased' on a happy face.
Native Speakers
Use it in emails to sound professional.
Cultural Insight
It is the gold standard for polite introductions.
Grammar Shortcut
Pleased with = object; Pleased to = action.
Say It Right
Keep it one syllable.
Don't Make This Mistake
Don't say 'pleased for' a thing.
Did You Know?
It comes from Latin.
Study Smart
Use it in your daily journal.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Pleased starts with P, like 'Positive'.
Visual Association
A person smiling after a job well done.
Word Web
Challenge
Use 'pleased' in three sentences today.
Word Origin
Old French / Latin
Original meaning: To be acceptable
Cultural Context
None.
Used frequently in formal business introductions.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
Work
- Pleased to meet you
- Pleased with the progress
- Pleased to announce
School
- Pleased with the grade
- Pleased with the effort
Social
- Pleased to see you
- Pleased with the party
Travel
- Pleased with the hotel
Conversation Starters
"What is something you are pleased with today?"
"How do you usually show you are pleased?"
"Are you pleased with your current progress in English?"
"When was the last time you were pleased as punch?"
"Do you find it easy to express when you are pleased?"
Journal Prompts
Describe a time you were pleased with yourself.
Write about a recent event that made you feel pleased.
How does being pleased differ from being excited?
List three things that make you feel pleased.
Frequently Asked Questions
8 questionsYes.
Only if you mean you are a person who pleases others.
Displeased.
It is neutral and polite.
Use 'pleased to + verb'.
Use 'pleased with + noun'.
Yes, very.
No.
Test Yourself
I am ___ to meet you.
Pleased is a formal way to say happy.
Which means the same as pleased?
Satisfied is a synonym.
Can you be 'pleased with' something?
Yes, 'pleased with' is a common collocation.
Word
Meaning
These are synonyms/antonyms.
He was pleased with the results.
Score: /5
Summary
To be pleased is to feel a quiet, polite sense of satisfaction.
- Pleased means feeling satisfied.
- It is an adjective.
- Use 'with' for nouns and 'to' for verbs.
- It is a polite and common word.
Memory Palace
Imagine a 'P' for 'Pleased' on a happy face.
Native Speakers
Use it in emails to sound professional.
Cultural Insight
It is the gold standard for polite introductions.
Grammar Shortcut
Pleased with = object; Pleased to = action.
Example
I am very pleased with my new apartment.
Related Content
This Word in Other Languages
Related Phrases
More Emotions words
abanimfy
C1A collective psychological state characterized by a profound loss of vitality, spirit, or motivation within a specific group or community. It describes the stagnation that occurs when a social structure or organization loses its shared sense of purpose and creative energy.
abanimize
C1The systematic process of neutralizing or stripping away emotional intensity from a situation to achieve a state of detached objectivity. It is primarily used to describe a mental state where complex human sentiments are reduced to manageable, clinical facts to avoid personal bias.
abhor
C1To feel a strong sense of horror, disgust, or intense hatred toward something. It is a formal verb used to describe a deep-seated moral or emotional repulsion.
abminity
C1To regard something with intense loathing or extreme disgust; to treat an object or idea as an abomination. It is used in high-level contexts to describe a profound moral or aesthetic aversion toward an action or concept.
abmotine
C1Describes a state of being emotionally detached or lacking intrinsic motivation, often characterized by a cold, clinical, or indifferent stance. It is used to denote a specific lack of movement or response to external emotional stimuli.
abominable
C1Causing a feeling of hatred or disgust; very unpleasant or disagreeable. It often describes something morally repulsive or extremely bad in quality.
abphilous
C1To consciously withdraw or distance oneself from a previous affinity, attraction, or emotional attachment. It involves a systematic effort to break a psychological bond in order to achieve a state of neutrality or objectivity.
absedhood
C1Describing a state of being profoundly detached or emotionally withdrawn from one's surroundings or social responsibilities. It refers to a specific condition of intense, often self-imposed, isolation or a lack of interest in external affairs.
abvidness
C1The quality or state of being intensely eager, enthusiastic, or consumed by a particular interest or desire. It represents a level of dedication and spirited engagement that often goes beyond standard enthusiasm, typical of scholars, collectors, or hobbyists.
adacrty
C1Alacrity refers to a cheerful readiness, promptness, or willingness to do something. It describes not only the speed of an action but also the positive and enthusiastic attitude of the person performing it.
