Pleasant Definition & Meaning

American

British

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Examples

Related Words

Synonyms pleasant American [plez-uhnt] / ˈplɛz ənt /

adjective

1. pleasing, agreeable, or enjoyable; giving pleasure.

   pleasant news.

   Synonyms: gratifying, welcome

2. (of persons, manners, disposition, etc.) socially acceptable or adept; polite; amiable; agreeable.

   Synonyms: friendly, congenial, delightful

3. fair, as weather.

   a pleasant summer day.

4. Archaic. lively, sprightly, or merry.

5. Obsolete. jocular or facetious.

pleasant British / ˈplɛzənt /

adjective

1. giving or affording pleasure; enjoyable

2. having pleasing or agreeable manners, appearance, habits, etc

3. obsolete merry and lively

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

• pleasantly adverb
• pleasantness noun

Etymology

Origin of pleasant

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English plesaunt, from Old French plaisant, originally present participle of plaisir “to please”; equivalent to please + -ant

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The English singer’s fourth solo album is a perfectly competent production that rarely rises above the level of blandly pleasant electro-pop.

From The Wall Street Journal

"It's really not pleasant, you know? You're going to question yourself. Your morality, even, and even your conscience," she told the BBC.

From BBC

And as off-putting as it may be, this rebellion from pleasant form is innately, delightfully feminine.

From Salon

After a cold and frosty start for some, it should feel quite pleasant in the afternoon sunshine.

From BBC

They were pleasant enough, but they did not make eye contact with me.

From Literature

Related Words

• agreeable
• amiable
• amusing
• bland
• charming
• cheerful
• congenial
• cool
• cordial
• delightful
• engaging
• enjoyable
• fun
• gracious
• homey
• likable
• lovely
• mild
• pleasing
• pleasurable

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.