1
general::
pleasure
the feeling you have when you are doing something you enjoy or when something very nice has happened to you:
• Most craftsmen get a lot of pleasure out of making things. • His music has brought pleasure to people all over the world.
happiness
the feeling you have when you are happy:
• Happiness is more important than money. • Pauline was willing to do anything for her children’s happiness. • I doubt she’ll find happiness with Gary.
joy
especially written a deep feeling of great happiness, because something good has happened:
• It’s hard to describe the joy we felt, seeing each other again after so many years. • They danced with joy when they heard the news.
delight
great happiness and excitement, because something good that has happened:
• To the audience’s delight , she agreed to play another song. • Imagine my delight when I found out that the house was for sale.
contentment
a quietly happy and satisfied feeling, especially because you are happy with your work, your life etc:
• He moved to the country and found contentment for the first time in his life. • She settled back in her chair and sighed with contentment.
euphoria
an extremely strong feeling of happiness and excitement that continues for a short time:
• The whole country experienced a period of euphoria after the war ended. • the euphoria that parents feel after the birth of a child
elation
formal a strong feeling of happiness and excitement, especially because you have achieved something:
• After she had made her first landing, she experienced a great sense of elation. • The troops’ sense of elation at the victory was not to last.
Longman-Thesaurus
2
general::
pleasure
verbs
take pleasure in (doing) something
• He takes great pleasure in boasting about his big salary.
get pleasure from/out of something
• Young children get a lot of pleasure from dressing up.
find pleasure in (doing) something
• I find great pleasure in reading.
give (somebody) pleasure
• Over the years, painting has given me a lot of pleasure.
bring pleasure to somebody
(= give someone pleasure )
• His singing has brought pleasure to millions.
derive pleasure from something
formal (= get pleasure from it )
• I derive great pleasure from playing chess.
adjectives
great/enormous/immense pleasure
• Steinbeck’s books have brought enormous pleasure to many people.
sheer/pure pleasure
• He studied ancient languages for the sheer pleasure of learning.
genuine/real pleasure
• She smiled with genuine pleasure.
perverse pleasure
(= unreasonable, surprising, or bad )
• Some people derive perverse pleasure from the suffering of others.
phrases
a source of pleasure
• Her garden was a constant source of pleasure.
transnet.ir
3
general::
noun enjoyment ADJ. considerable, deep, enormous, great, intense It gives me enormous pleasure to welcome my next guest. | genuine, real | pure, sheer | quiet The audience nodded with quiet pleasure at her remark. | obvious | endless Children find endless pleasure in playing with water. | malicious, perverse, sadistic | vicarious He gained vicarious pleasure from watching people laughing and joking. | aesthetic, physical, sensual, sexual VERB + PLEASURE bring (sb), give (sb), provide | derive, find, gain, get, take My grandfather got immense pleasure out of life until the end. PREP. for ~ Some people read for pleasure, and others read to study. | with ~ His eyes lit up with pleasure. | ~ at He beamed with pleasure at seeing her. | ~ from She was deriving a perverse pleasure from his discomfort. | ~ in They took great pleasure in each other's company. PHRASES business and pleasure I often meet useful people at parties, so I combine business with pleasure. | have the pleasure of sth May I have the pleasure of the next dance? sth that makes you happy ADJ. great | doubtful, dubious the dubious pleasure of growing up in the public eye | little, simple one of life's little pleasures | fleeting, momentary, temporary VERB + PLEASURE have (formal) I hope to have the pleasure of meeting you again. | enjoy | forego PLEASURE + NOUN boat, craft PHRASES the pleasures of life She enjoys the simple pleasures of life. | the pleasures of the flesh Priests promise to forego the pleasures of the flesh.
Oxford Collocations Dictionary