please

/pliːz/

What does "please" mean in English?

to request politely

Please close the door.

A polite request to close the door.

How to use "please" correctly: definitions and examples in English?

formal

to ask for something in a courteous way

Could you please pass the salt?

A courteous request for the salt.

Often placed at the beginning of a request for formality, or at the end for a softer tone.

Collocations

please doa polite urging to perform an actionplease helpa courteous request for assistanceplease notea polite way to draw attention to information

polite expressions of request and gratitude

Pro Tip

Politeness Position

Place 'please' at the beginning for formal contexts and at the end for casual conversations to sound natural.

Gold Rule

Avoid Overuse

Using 'please' too often can make a request sound insincere; use it when genuine politeness is needed.

Word Origin

From Old French 'plaisir' meaning 'to please', from Latin 'placere' meaning 'to please, to satisfy'.

Usage Notes

Use 'please' at the start of a sentence for formal requests (e.g., 'Please submit the report by Friday.') and at the end for informal, softer requests (e.g., 'Pass the butter, please.').

Word Breakdown

pleas(e)

derived from Latin 'placere' meaning 'to please'

root

English Dictionary

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