Word: to please

Associations

The phrase "to please" means to make someone happy or satisfied. It is often used when talking about fulfilling someone's desires or needs.

• Example 1: "I baked a cake to please my friends." This means I made a cake to make my friends happy.
• Example 2: "He changes his routine to please his boss." This indicates he alters what he does to satisfy his boss.
• Example 3: "They planned the trip to please their children." This shows they organized the trip to make their children happy.

A synonym for "to please" is "to satisfy." The main difference is that "to please" focuses more on bringing joy or happiness, while "to satisfy" can mean meeting needs or requirements, not always related to emotions.

Substitution

You can use other phrases like "to satisfy," "to make happy," or "to gratify." Each of these has slightly different meanings:

• "To satisfy" is more about meeting needs or wants.
• "To make happy" emphasizes bringing joy directly.
• "To gratify" often implies pleasing someone with indulgence or luxury.

Deconstruction

The phrase "to please" is a simple verb phrase.

• The root word is "please," which comes from the Latin word "placere," meaning "to be agreeable or acceptable."
• There is no prefix or suffix here, as it is used in its base form.

Inquiry

Think about times when you've wanted to please someone.

• Who were you trying to please, and how did you do it?
• Are there situations where trying to please someone might not be good for you?
• Can you think of a moment when someone pleased you, and how that made you feel?