What is pleased? Pronunciation and usage in English

pleased means . Learn how to pronounce and use pleased through vivid examples and easy-to-understand exercises.

Definition & pronunciation of pleased

pleasedadjective

/pliːzd/
Definition & pronunciation of pleased

Okay, let's break down how to pronounce "pleased." It's a common stumbling block for English learners! Here's a breakdown:

1. The Core Sound:

  • "plee" – This is the key part. It's similar to the word "plea" but a little shorter and more clipped. The "e" sound here is a long "e" – like in the word "see" or "tree". Think of a slightly drawn-out "ee" sound.

2. The "sed" Part:

  • "sed" – This is where many people mess up. It's pronounced like "said" but with a very quick "d" sound at the end. It’s almost like the “d” is swallowed. It's brief and almost like a single syllable.

Putting it Together:

The whole word is pronounced like: “plee-sed”

Tips for getting it right:

  • Stress: The emphasis is on the first syllable: plee.
  • Practice the "plee" sound: Say "plea," "see," "tree," and really focus on that long "e" sound.
  • Quick "d": Practice saying "said" quickly and then very quickly shorten that "d" sound. It almost disappears!

Resources for Listening:

Would you like me to:

  • Give you some example sentences to practice with?
  • Focus on a specific part of the pronunciation you're struggling with (e.g., just the "plee" sound)?

Usage and examples with the word pleased in English

Let's break down how to use the word "pleased" in English. It's a versatile word that expresses happiness or satisfaction, but it's often used slightly differently than just saying "happy."

1. Basic Usage – Expressing Satisfaction:

  • Most Common: "Pleased" is used to show you're happy about something someone has done, or something that has happened. It's a more formal and polite way of saying "happy" or "glad."

    • Example: "I’m pleased to announce that we’ve received a grant!" (More formal than "I'm happy to announce...")
    • Example: "She was pleased with the results of her exam." (She was satisfied).
    • Example: "He's pleased to hear that you’re feeling better." (He’s glad you’re well).

2. As a Response to a Compliment:

  • "Pleased" is frequently used as a polite response when someone compliments you.

    • Example: "Thank you for the lovely scarf!" – "Oh, I’m pleased you like it."
    • Example: "You did a fantastic job on the presentation." – "I’m pleased you think so."

3. With “to” – Expressing Delight at an Invitation or Opportunity:

  • "Pleased to" is a very common phrase used to express delight about being offered something.

    • Example: “I’m pleased to be invited to your party!”
    • Example: “I’m pleased to work with such a talented team.”
    • Example: “I’m pleased to introduce Mr. Smith.” (Formal introduction)

4. Grammatical Notes:

  • "Pleased" is an adjective: It describes a feeling – a state of being happy or satisfied.
  • It takes a noun after it: You usually follow "pleased" with "to be" + a noun (e.g., "pleased to meet you," "pleased to hear that").

5. Synonyms (Words with similar meanings):

  • Happy
  • Glad
  • Delighted
  • Content
  • Satisfied

6. Less Formal Alternatives:

  • I’m happy…
  • I’m glad…
  • I’m thrilled… (more enthusiastic)

Here's a table to summarize:

Usage Example
General Satisfaction “I’m pleased with your progress.”
Response to a compliment "Thank you! I'm pleased you like it."
Invitation/Opportunity “I’m pleased to be involved.”
Followed by "to be + noun" "I'm pleased to meet you."

To help me give you even more tailored advice, could you tell me:

  • In what kind of context are you thinking of using "pleased"? (e.g., a job interview, a casual conversation, a formal letter?)

Synonyms for the word pleased

Idioms of the word pleased

far from pleased | none/not too pleased | not best pleased
not pleased; angry
  • She was none too pleased at having to do it all again.
  • He did not look too pleased when I told him.
  • She was not best pleased with his choice.
only too pleased (to do something)
very happy or willing to do something
  • We're only too pleased to help.
(as) pleased/proud as Punch
very pleased/proud
  • Now he’s passed his driving test, he’s as pleased as Punch.
pleased with yourself
(often disapproving)too proud of something you have done
  • He was looking very pleased with himself.

Practice with vocabulary pleased

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

  1. After a thorough review, the management team was quite ________ with the progress made on the sustainability initiative.
  2. We are ________ to confirm that your proposal for the international partnership has been approved.
  3. The project manager was clearly ________ by the unexpected delay in the delivery of critical components.
  4. All team members are ________ to complete their mandatory compliance training by the end of the month.

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer (There may be multiple correct answers per question)

  1. The client seemed extremely ________ with the final design concept presented by the agency. a) satisfied b) indifferent c) pleased d) annoyed e) delighted

  2. We would be ________ to extend an invitation for you to speak at our annual conference. a) reluctant b) eager c) hesitant d) pleased e) unwilling

  3. The board's decision to increase funding for research and development was ________ received by the scientific community. a) unfavorably b) enthusiastically c) poorly d) positively e) pleased

  4. It is essential that employees ________ to the new security protocols implemented across all departments. a) neglect b) adapt c) adhere d) conform e) disregard

  5. The deadline for submitting the quarterly financial reports has been ________ to Friday. a) postponed b) accelerated c) extended d) moved e) maintained

Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

  1. The committee expressed their profound contentment regarding the successful completion of the audit. (Rewrite using a form of "pleased")
  2. It gives us immense joy to announce the launch of our new flagship product next month. (Rewrite using "pleased")
  3. She was very content with the outcome of her negotiation with the suppliers. (Rewrite without using "pleased" or "content")

Answer:

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

  1. pleased
  2. pleased
  3. disappointed
  4. expected

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

  1. a) satisfied, c) pleased, e) delighted
  2. b) eager, d) pleased
  3. b) enthusiastically, d) positively
  4. c) adhere, d) conform
  5. a) postponed, c) extended, d) moved

Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

  1. The committee was profoundly pleased with the successful completion of the audit.
  2. We are pleased to announce the launch of our new flagship product next month.
  3. She was very gratified by the outcome of her negotiation with the suppliers.

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